An organization devoted to getting needed home medical equipment into the hands of senior citizens is holding donation drives throughout south county next week.
St. Louis HELP, or Health Equipment Lending Program, is a nonprofit organization that has distributed millions of dollars of free home medical equipment to people who need it every year.
South county residents can donate equipment at donation drives from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at designated Walgreens drop-off sites.
Those locations include:
• Affton — 1 Grasso Plaza, Gravois and South Rock Hill roads.
• Oakville — 4400 Lemay Ferry Road, Lemay Ferry and Forder roads.
• Webster Groves — 8571 Watson Road, Watson Road and Elm Avenue.
• Fenton — 1001 Bowles Ave., Bowles Avenue and Highway 141.
St. Louis HELP accepts donations of manual and power wheelchairs, electric hospital beds, shower chairs, canes/crutches/walkers, grab bars, elevated toilet seats, portable commodes, lift chairs, seating cushions, back supports and folding ramps — every type of item except oxygen and medications.
Also accepted are nonworking wheelchairs and other equipment, which can be used for parts to get other wheelchairs back into service. All equipment is checked for safety.
“Essentially we take everything except for oxygen tanks and medications because we’re just not licensed to handle those,” Laura Cannon of HELP said. “Free is a word nobody understands anymore, but we try not to put any roadblocks in front of anyone.
“We do not require a physician’s prescription. We do not require proof of income — nobody asks for (medical equipment) that doesn’t need it.”
St. Louis HELP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All equipment and monetary donations are tax deductible. For more information, call (314) 567-4700.