Medical equipment is often a big expense for people who only need the crutches or wheelchair temporarily.
A 1-year-old nonprofit in Greenwood Village offers a free solution.
The South Metro Medical Equipment Closet takes donated gear, cleans it and then lets people borrow it.
It's free and available to adults across the Denver area.
Equipment and financial donations to the service are tax deductible, and any money received goes to pay for insurance and cleaning supplies.
The most-needed equipment donations include knee cruisers, hospital beds and wheelchairs.
"We have had people tell us a wheelchair costs $400, and they just can't afford to buy one," Donna Ralston said, who started the nonprofit. "And so we are there to supply that need."
The South Metro Medical Equipment Loan Closet has eight volunteers who take calls for loan requests and donations five days a week at 720-443-2013.
“Well, a lot of them only need it for a little bit of time so they don't really want to spend the money buying something,” volunteer Patti Jo Oakley said. “My faith tells me I should relieve the suffering of the world, and by helping people in their time of need, I'm doing that."
You can donate to the cause here.
