Do you have medical equipment you are not using, and you are wondering where you to dispose? The best and most efficient way to follow is to donate the equipment if they are in good condition. That way, a needy person who is incapable of buying a new one will be able to get the equipment from the medical supplies. There are several pieces of medical equipment that you can donate, which include wheelchairs, canes, lift chairs, shower chairs, potty chairs, and walkers.
Fortunately, we have several organizations that can take your unused equipment and give it to those who need it. The organization will look for the hospital, doctors, or people of the general public in need of the equipment for the medical supply. This tutorial will give you some places to donate your medical equipment. Besides, we will give you several things you need to consider before donating your medical equipment. Come with us!
What To Do Before Donating Your Medical Equipment
Donating medical equipment may seem easy, picking it up and handing it over to a responsible organization. However, there are a few things that you need to take care of before you list the medical equipment for donation. Here is what you need to do before the donation process is actualized.
- Clean it up: Before you can donate your medical equipment, cleaning it and ensuring it is in good condition is mandatory. There is a possibility that your equipment donation could be rejected due to cleanness. If you decide to post the medical equipment and dirt features in the equipment, there is a high chance of rejection.
- Ensure it is in good working condition: You should donate medical equipment when it is in good condition and working correctly. When you donate medical equipment that is not in good working condition, the organization most likely rejects it. However, if you are ready to donate it, please inform the agency where it needs to be repaired—maybe they can take it and fix it.
- Be sure you will not need the item after donating: When donating medical equipment, you must be sure you will not need the equipment again. Some of this medical equipment is very expensive; for example, a wheelchair can cost between $100 and $400. So, you can avoid being forced to buy the same medical equipment you previously donated when you make the right decision.
Benefits of Donate Used Medical Equipment
Donating medical equipment, you know, will help someone the same way it did to you and comes with several pleasures. Several benefits come with donating medical equipment, which include the following;
- Sharing and caring: There is a phrase that says, “sharing is caring,” meaning that when you share what you have, you are automatically expressing your care. In our context, when you share medical equipment with an organization, you demonstrate your care to the person who benefits from it. In most cases, people receiving donations always need that equipment but cannot afford it because of financial constraints.
- Mental satisfaction: According to science, there is mental satisfaction that comes with charity acts that come on all human beings. Giving acts or being involved in charity works causes your brain to stimulate pleasure circuits that give a good feeling. As a result, you will get inner peace and tranquility due to chemicals like endorphins responsible for euphoria.
- Tax deduction: You are usually allowed to deduct the fair market value of your donation as a charitable contribution. However, you must equate your deductions as an item and ensure that IRS recognizes the organization as a charity. You can take advantage of tax deductions by donating medical equipment such as hospital beds.
Where To Donate Medical Equipment Near Me?
As mentioned earlier, several organizations are ready to receive unwanted medical equipment and share it with a needy person somewhere. Before donating medical equipment to an organization, try contacting some community places first to see if any are in need. Some of these places include;
- Local churches
- Hospitals or doctors in your locality.
- Charity organizations in your area.
- Veteran’s Affair Local chapters
If none of those local organizations needs the item, try contacting other local places we did not list and donate. However, there are other organizations where you can donate your medical equipment if you cannot find any local spot. These include the following;
1. Med-Eq
Med-Eq is an American-based non-profit organization that typically receives donated materials and hands them to charity organizations to give to needy people. How can I donate to Med-Eq? Open your browser and search www.med-eq.org/Donate/ to start the process. After loading, the URL will take you to the “Donation Page,” where they will tell you the list of medical items that you can donate to them.
You will need basic information like location, donation type, and whether the item will be mailed or will need to be picked. So, kindly enter that information and wait for Med-Eq to contact you on the way forward. Fortunately, you will get a tax deduction receipt for the organization that benefits after donating to Med-Eq.
2. Project C.U.R.E.
Project Cure is an organization that runs a cargo program. The primary reason for this program is to deliver semi-trailer cargo containers that house donated medical equipment. The donations mainly aim at underfunded hospitals and community health centers in developing countries. The organization also provides C.U.R.E kits that suit case sizes that you can use to carry essential medical equipment.
There are six distribution centers in the country where you can drop your medical equipment to be shipped abroad. Like Med-Eq, you will receive a tax deduction receipt from the organization because of your donation.
3. Medshare
Medshare is a humanitarian charity whose main agenda is to supply surplus medical equipment to facilities. Two main recipients benefit from the medical supplies from Medshare: the Medical Mission Team and Healing Hands. These two organizations have been committed to improving the quality of health in underdeveloped countries. Their primary focus is women and children in such countries.
You can search the URL medshare.org/donate-medical-supplies/, which will take you to the “Donation Page,” where you can donate your medical items to them. You will also get a tax deduction receipt from Medshare once you give your medical equipment donation.
4. Advocates for World Health
The Advocates for World Health is an organization that typically collects and distributes medical supplies to the needy. Their primary goal is to reduce waste while improving health in the United States and abroad.
This non-profit organization usually redistributes essential medical equipment to support unprivileged communities. How do I donate to Advocates for World Health? Your donation will reach them via their official website at awhealth.org, where you must fill out a donation form. Kindly note that you must fill out the form so you are not denied the chance to donate to them.
5. Afya Foundation
Afya Foundation is an organization that mainly collects medical equipment from people, hospital supplies, and humanitarian provisions. After collecting the equipment, Afya Foundation usually sends these medical supplies to African countries and the Caribbean. Unlike other organizations, the Afya Foundation supplies healthcare professionals on humanitarian missions.
6. American Red Cross
American Red Cross is among the popular organizations in the US because of its involvement in emergency crises to help those in need. Many people have been typically injured because of natural disasters and other emergencies, and we have seen the American Red Cross come to their rescue. That is why they will need your support to help reach out to more affected.
There is much medical equipment that you can donate to the American Red Cross, like wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, etc. This will help them reach more people because they will have plenty of supplies to help the needy. Luckily, your used medical equipment, which seems useless, can help them fill a gap in medical resource availability. Kindly visit their official website at redcross.org and learn more about them.
7. Alliance for Smiles
Alliance for Smile is another non-profit organization aiming to collect surplus medical equipment from hospitals across the country and redistribute it. They mainly focus their distribution on low-income families, schools, and other small clinics. This allows many providers to donate their equipment without worrying about logistics and storage. The organization’s main agenda is to help those who cannot afford medical supplies to feel part of society.
To become part of this great move, please open your favorite browser and search allianceforsmiles.org/donate. Donating is the best way of giving back to the community other than helping the needy with medical equipment. They mainly focus on helping the needy in Asian and African countries.
8. American Medical Resource Foundation
Also known as AMRF, the American Medical Resource Foundation is an organization that mainly focuses on supplying medical equipment to needy hospitals. They mostly rely on members or businesses who like to donate medical equipment to healthcare facilities. This specifically helps the doctors in such facilities treat more patients efficiently besides lowering the cost hence saving lives.
The main aim of the American Medical Resource Foundation is to bridge the gap between providers and medical facilities in developing countries. They are mainly focused on the medical equipment that is not needed and give them to the people who need them more. They give to individuals, hospitals, and healthcare centers that can handle more people.
9. Allegheny County Medical Society
The ACMS is a charity organization with over 700 physicians whose primary goal is to help people give back to society. They mainly give back to the community via advocacy, education, and service. Allegheny County Medical Society works with local businesses, charity organizations, and the government to educate the public.
Are you a resident of Pennsylvania? The good news is that Allegheny County Medical Society accepts medical equipment donations from community members. Kindly note that there is a criterion that you must follow when donating medical equipment. However, kindly ensure you contact the ACMS directly to give more information on the same and where you should drop your donation. Kindly open your favorite browser and search the URL acms.org to learn more about the organization.
10. Goodwill Stores
Goodwill is another nonprofit organization whose primary goal is to help people secure jobs and build their careers toward self-reliance. However, Goodwill accepts donations of goods from people, but there is a limitation on the medical equipment they receive. We advise liaising with Goodwill before knowing if they receive medical equipment donations in your area.
For instance, if you are in New York, Goodwill accepts donations of medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, and crutches. There are so many companies that usually donate surplus medical and hospital equipment every year. If they typically accept the equipment, kindly schedule a pickup date online, and they will pick up your medical equipment.
11. Salvation Army Stores
The Salvation Army is another charity organization that runs under the Christian faith to help those in need worldwide. They are well-known for helping people who were struck by famine or needed eyeglasses. Additionally, they usually provide medical equipment to many people who do not have access to that equipment. Fortunately, most of the medical equipment they give out is given to them through donations.
How do I become part of the Salvation Army and start donating? Salvation Army typically accepts equipment of all items, including medical equipment. However, kindly ensure that the medical equipment is in good condition before you can donate them. Go to their website at satruck.org and donate your medical equipment.
12. Global Links
Global Links is an organization that works with most healthcare facilities in the United States to provide free medical to communities regardless of income. They also help people with dental and mental healthcare problems to gain their sanity. Global Links usually works with local organizations that typically help them to locate needy people in the communities.
Global Links typically accepts medical equipment donations to help them reach out to more needy people. You can donate prescription eyewear, wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and crutches, among other equipment. Kindly search the URL globallinks.org and donate your surplus, which will help somebody who cannot afford it.
Final Thought
Those are some places where you can donate your medical equipment and help a needy person, hospital, or clinic. Kindly ensure that the medical equipment you donate is clean and in good condition for it to be accepted. After confirming that the equipment meets all the qualifications, kindly contact them to know the process you will use to drop it. The criteria for picking may differ depending on the organization and the medical equipment you donate. Some organizations may request you to mail the medical equipment, while others will pick up the equipment.