New Program In Our Community

Mr. Albero,

I was given your name by an introduction to Laurali from Metropolitan Magazine. She suggested I contact you about our new program. The Community Closet began in 2009 from an idea that has turned into a community resource used by civic, social, and faith-based organizations. We take donated used medical devices and put them in the hands of those in the community who can’t afford them because either Medicare won’t cover or replace them after they’ve worn out or there in an unfortunate situation where the funds are not available to purchase the items they need to remain independent. We depend solely upon the communities donations to keep our program going with both donations of devices or through monetary donations. Recently we were awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore which we are using to promote our program. Each week our website (http://www.blogger.com/) is updated to reflect what was taken in and loaned out so anyone with internet access can view an accurate inventory twenty four hours a day. Through in-kind donations from Go-Getters we are able to pick up donations free of charge and deliver them as well at no cost to those who need them. All donations are tax deductable and there are no costs involved to those who use our program. There are no limits to the age or boundaries to our program as we work to cover the entire Lower Eastern Shore. We’ve reached into Lower Delaware and have ventured down on to Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Our program doesn’t purchase medical devices because of the abundance of used devices. As we start the New Year you’ll hear more about our program through different outlets encouraging the community to donate used medical devices that are just collecting dust in someone’s garage, basement or closet. We want the community to help those in our community to allow them the dignity, independence, and opportunities that we sometimes take for granted. It is our goal to become the resource for used medical devices such as walkers, wheel chairs, shower benches, hospital beds, etc. All we ask is they fill out a service agreement stating they’ll use the device according to their doctor’s advice and sign off on holding us liable from using one our devices which we take pride in loaning out for six months and if they still need it we will allow them to continue using it upon signing a new service agreement. As our inventory stands right now generally what we get in is quickly loaned out and I was hoping that you might that you would encourage your readers to donate unused medical devices. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and further discuss our program if you have any questions but until then I would hope that you would simply keep our program in mind and pass this information along to your readers.

Program Manager Gordon Howatt
Phone 410-546-3619
Fax 410-546-5387
Email gordonhowatt@thecommunitycloset.net
Website www.thecommunitycloset.net