By Maurice
Wheelchairs are an essential mobility aid for many people, including the elderly, those with limited mobility and even those recovering from an injury. They come in all shapes, sizes and many different models allowing you the option to choose one that suits your requirements and budget.
Not everyone can afford a good quality wheelchair due to many reasons, including financial constraints. In fact, there are over 75 million people who need wheelchairs but are unable to purchase one. If you have a wheelchair, walker or other mobility aids lying idle, think about donating them to those who need them. Doing so will not only help clear up storage space for you but also help those who desperately need them to lead an active, healthy lifestyle.
Right now you may be wondering where to donate wheelchairs and walkers near me. In this article, we list down some of the many organizations that accept donations for medical equipment and help them find a new home where they are desperately required.
Where to Donate Wheelchairs and Walkers Near Me
National
Hope Haven International Ministries’ goal is to deliver wheelchairs to people in desperate need of them around the world. They collect, clean, repair, and box donated wheelchairs and equipment. A dedicated group of professionals – therapists, rehab specialists, volunteers – travel from around the world to help custom fit each wheelchair to the recipient.
When you donate your new and gently used items, local Goodwill organizations sell them in stores or on shopgoodwill.com and use the revenue generated to provide valuable employment training and job placement services for people in your community.
The Pass It On Center continues to create national and state resources to foster the safe, effective and appropriate reuse of assistive technology so that people with disabilities can get affordable AT they need in order to live, learn, work and play more independently in communities of their choice. Select your state and find organizations that might accept wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment and made them available to people who need them.
UCP recycles gently used durable medical equipment to families and adults who are in need of this equipment for free. You can view photos of available equipment on the Cecily's Closet Facebook page.
Matthew 25 Ministries accepts product donations from corporations, organizations nationwide, including items that are misprinted, slightly damaged, over-stocked or gently used. These donations are sorted in warehouses and then redistributed to the poorest of the poor and disaster victims in the United States and around the world. Matthew 25 Ministries accepts almost all kind of products including hospital supplies. Call 513-793-6256 regarding donation questions. For individual donors, they collect and distribute in Ohio.
Triumph Foundation’s Exchange section is designed to pair people who are in need of adapted equipment & supplies with people who have unneeded durable medical goods to donate. If you have some equipment you don’t need anymore, create an ad on Triumph Foundation’s Exchange section.
REquipment accepts durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and more, that is gently used and generally less than 3 years old. Equipment should be in good condition or easily repaired. Please complete this Donation Form if you have any equipment to donate.
Advocates for World Health accepts and provide medical products to clinics and hospitals worldwide. AWH achieves this by reallocating medical product to organizations that provide health care services. By redirecting usable medical supplies to health care providers and preventing viable equipment from entering the waste stream, AWH lowers the overhead costs of hospitals and relief agencies, strengthens the health care delivery system, and promotes eco-friendly practices. To donate equipment, fill this form.
Project C.U.R.E. is the world’s largest distributor of donated medical relief. if you’re someone who wants to make an impact, you can donate directly or even volunteer at one of their many distribution centres.
CURE accepts financial and material contributions such as medical and DME equipment for medical mission efforts throughout the world. Email them for more instructions on how you can donate medical equipment.
Global Mobility USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit humanitarian organization committed to serving the needs of persons with disabilities around the world who are in need of a free wheelchair or other mobility assistance. accepts donations of ambulatory aid including wheelchairs*, wheelchair parts, walkers, canes, crutches, ramps, as well as PT/OT equipment.
Donate wheelchairs to veterans through the Salvation Army's veteran, children, and disabled community's support program. The charitable organization runs multiple programs geared toward helping individuals improve their quality of life, including rehabilitation center, a shelter and various other programs for the underprivileged to help them make ends meet.
The American Red Cross accepts donations in various shapes and forms including household goods, medical equipment and mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers. They also run a very efficient donation collection process called Green Drop. You can either pack your donations and drop it off at one of the Green Drop locations or arrange a free pickup.
Joni & Friends runs a program called Wheels for the World, through which it collects wheelchairs and distributes it among disabled individuals in developing countries. Under the programs, you can donate all types of wheelchairs, including manual, electric-powered, lightweight, heavy-duty and even transport chairs.
Wheels of Hope collects, reconditions, and gives free wheelchairs, walking aids and related durable medical equipment to those in great need in developing or recovering nations. Only collect wheelchair if you live within 25 miles radius. Have to ship to them otherwise
MedWish International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery, recycling, and redistribution of medical supplies and equipment for humanitarian relief.
LifeNets is another charitable organization that collects wheelchairs for those with limited mobility under its wheelchair program. The organization's goal is to ensure that wheelchairs not in use find their way into the lives of those who need them most and can benefit from them. You can visit their website to find out more information about the company, or you can visit the organization's donate a wheelchair page to make a donation today.
Alabama
Christmas Charities Year Round provides basic living needs year-round, as well as Christmas gifts, all at no costs. They accept donations of wheelchairs, rollators, walkers, electric scooters, knee scooters, shower chairs, and bedside commodes.
Alaska
At Alaska Center for Children and Adults mobility equipment is available for loan to community members. A deposit is required, but is refundable if equipment is returned within 3 months. The equipment they accept and donate includes Wheelchairs, Bariatric Wheelchair, Walker, Knee Walker, Crutches, and Canes. Due to limited space, they might not accept/have equipment all the time.
Access Alaska's loan closet provides assistive technology and adaptive equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, transfer benches, magnifiers, hospital beds, commodes, walkers, grab bars) to individuals with disabilities to increase their safety and independence in their homes and the community. If you have bigger equpiment such as hospital beds, consider donating them.
The R.E.A.L Project is a one-stop collection distribution point for donated used medical equipment. After picking up equipment, they perform minor repairs and upgrade the equipment. Equipment can include manual and power wheelchairs, bedside commodes, shower chairs, electric and manual hospital beds, portable wheelchair ramps, seat lift chairs, breathing equipment, cane, crutches, walkers, hearing impaired telephones, and other durable medical equipment.
Alaska Medical Missions provides medical resources and professional support to communities in need around the world. MM receives donations of fully functioning medical supplies and equipment from a number of sources, including military hospitals, manufacturers, private medical facilities and individuals.
Hospice and Home Care of Juneau welcome donations of medical equipment in good or new condition. HHCJ has an extensive loan closet of medical equipment which can be provided to individuals for temporary use such as walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, transfer benches, shower chairs, and commodes.
The ACE Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides medical equipment and supplies to help people regain their mobility and independence through a lending closet. When equipment is donated, they inspect for repairs and sanitize prior to loaning the equipment out. ACE Austin's Compassionate Exchange is located in the Mat-Su Valley.
Arizona
The goal of the Arizona Assistive Technology Exchange hosted by AzTAP is to put Assistive Technology, adapted equipment or Durable Medical Equipment that is not currently being used into the hands of someone who can benefit from it.
Arizona Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America has one of the largest Loan Closets in the state of Arizona. They serve Veterans and families of Veterans who are unable to obtain the equipment through the VA or their insurance, at no cost. After Veterans, they are also able to provide equipment to the community for those who can’t afford it or insurance doesn’t cover. AZPVA accepts equipment that is new or gently used and less than five years old. Equipment must be in good working condition or easily repaired.
The Southwest Lending Closet is a 501(c)(3) organization. They have a durable medical equipment lending closet. Donations to the Closet go directly to the sole mission of lending durable medical equipment. Donations of medical equipment are accepted during regular business hours too.
Foothills Caring Corps have a variety of useful items and depending on availability, they can lend walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, canes, transfer chairs, crutches, knee scooters and other items. They accept donations of equipment and services.
Simple equipment needed for everyday life after an injury, surgery or condition is a forgotten cost to recovery. St. Vincent de Paul maintains a lending closet of such equipment. There are several ways to donate to St. Vincent de Paul: you can make a monetary donation, arrange a planned gift, donate goods or food, or even donate a vehicle.
SMILE Independent Living Center takes all types of donations: Cash, Checks, Endowment/Trust, Assistive Technology/Equipment, Products, to Volunteer Time. Accepted donated products consist of Equipment, shower chairs to magnifiers and any other devices that can be used to better and improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Resurrection Street Ministry, Inc. accepts and donates mobility equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and more. They also have a picking up option where they will pick up donations from your home or business. RSMAZ works with PVA in Arizona and has a direct relationship with the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 8 in Mesa, AZ providing accessory equipment and other things for many of the 2,800 Chapter members of Chapter 8.
Arkansas
If you have a manual or power wheelchair or other durable medical equipment (walker, hospital bed, therapeutic cushion) in good working, consider donating to Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission. ASCC has 10 Regional Equipment Recycling Centers located around the state. They are, however, unable to accept braces or other equipment that is custom fitted to individual, medical supplies that have been opened or items not frequently used by individuals with spinal cord disabilities.
California
Able People Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Public Benefit Charitable Organization that provides mobility equipment at no charge to low-income seniors and individuals with physical limitations. APF receives donated equipment from individuals that no longer need it, turns around and gives it to the people who do need it.
Helping Hands Senior Foundation has a Loan Closet as a free community resource where people may borrow basic medical equipment such as wheelchairs, power mobility equipment, walkers, crutches, canes, beds and bathroom safety items. They accept donations of equipment, however, their delivery or pick-up for any medical equipment is coordinated through volunteers and may not always be available. Please contact them directly for details.
Marin Medical Equipment Recyclers is a locally run volunteer non-profit based in San Rafael. They accept donations of clean, useable medical equipment and supplies and give them to individuals in the community who need them.
The Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society promotes the re-use of durable medical equipment and ensures a growing inventory and continuous flow of gently-used donated mobility and bath care durable medical equipment. If you or anyone you know has any durable medical equipment, as well as medical and incontinent supplies available to donate, please call or text 818-298-9893
Disability Action Center accepts donation of Assistive Technology and Durable Medical Equipment that is in clean, functional condition. After sanitizing the equipment, items are stored and redistributed to the clients as appropriate for their personal needs.
Easterseals Superior California accepts, restore, repair and loan equipment to members of the community.
The Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities is a private, nonprofit corporation located in San Mateo, California. If you have an item or items that you would like to donate, please contact them to make arrangements to drop the item(s) off. They accept donations of wheelchairs, 4 Wheel Rollator Walkers, Electric Scooters, Bath Chairs & Benches, Stairlifts & Porchlift Elevators, and other items.
Wheels of Mercy is a 501(c)3 Public Charity that collects used wheelchairs, repairs and refurbishes them, and delivers those wheelchairs free of charge, to people who need but cannot afford them.
Independent Living Center of Kern County’s Repair and ReUse program provides pre-owned durable medical equipment to people with disabilities at no cost. Durable medical equipment can be any equipment that provides therapeutic benefits to a patient in need because of certain medical conditions and/or illnesses. Please call 661.325.1063 to speak with the AT Department regarding donating equipment such as wheelchairs for the Repair and ReUse program.
FREED’s reuse program promotes independence by connecting people with the medical items they need. They offer refurbished medical equipment to seniors and individuals with disabilities free of charge. Items are donated from the community and refurbished by volunteers. Examples of the equipment include Wheelchairs, walkers, mobility devices, transfer boards, shower chairs, toilet seats, hospital beds, canes, and much more.
Able Advocates equipment closet provides services and equipment to children special needs. Donate them today to make a difference and support children with special needs.
AbleCloset is a “loaner” program, designed to provide equipment for children that are unable to obtain the needed equipment through other means or to be used while waiting for their equipment to be approved. Equipment can be dropped off at their warehouse located at Santa Clara at 1815 Walsh Ave. Hours are typically 10 am – 11 am on the first and third weekend of each month.
