Where To Donate A CPAP Machine ?

The generous act of donating your gently used a CPAP machine can be transformative for someone who lacks the means to buy such important items. Having spent years trying to find affordable durable medical equipment for my mom’s home needs, I encourage you to explore the options below and to make a positive impact.

This article serves as a straightforward guide to the different donation possibilities for used CPAP machines.

Where to donate a CPAP machine ? A gently used CPAP machine can be donated to –

• State Assistive Technology Projects
• state online equipment exchanges
• reuse centers
• community loan closets (state and local) and bikur cholim
• non-profit charities
• thrift stores
• medical equipment refurbishment projects
• faith-based organizations
• local churches
• senior centers
• veterans centers
• private individuals on classified websites and social media platforms

Donating CPAP machines to State Assistive Technology Programs

State Assistive Technology Programs (AT Programs)  – you can donate your CPAP machine to your state AT program.

State AT programs are an excellent option for donating your CPAP machine. By contributing to a statewide system of distribution and reuse, you can increase access to assistive technology devices for residents of the state.

The typical state AT program will run

• equipment lending libraries
• demonstration centers
• an online exchange site
• reuse centers and refurbishing centers

Your CPAP machine donation would be loaned to those individuals who use the program in your state to find their equipment.

To see how to donate equipment to your State AT Program, click on your state in the list below.

Click on your state to go to your State AT Program website

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

District of Columbia

Donating a CPAP machine to Refurbishment and Reuse Centers

Medical equipment refurbishment and reuse centers represent another meaningful opportunity to donate your CPAP machine.

Donating your gently used CPAP machine to medical equipment refurbishment centers is always encouraged. These centers take great care to sanitize, and to repair, if need be, the equipment before passing it on to those who need it.

The majority of these centers operate as non-profit organizations, offering the equipment at very affordable prices or even for free.

Reuse centers also focus on redistributing the equipment, though they may not undertake any sanitizing or repair work on the items. Similarly, they will often provide the equipment to people in need at a low cost, or for free.

If understanding the fate of your donation is of importance to you, consider asking the center before you donate, if they will be selling or gifting your CPAP machine to someone in need.

Donating adaptive equipment to Centers for Independent Living

Centers for Independent Living (CIL) helps those with disabilities to live independently within the community –

“provide independent living services for people with disabilities. CILs are at the core of ACL’s independent living programs, which work to support community living and independence for people with disabilities across the nation based on the belief that all people can live with dignity, make their own choices, and participate fully in society. These programs provide tools, resources, and supports for integrating people with disabilities fully into their communities to promote equal opportunities, self-determination, and respect.”

Source : https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/centers-independent-living

For those keen on donating to individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living are an excellent option. They frequently have loan closets filled with equipment to support their members, so it’s worth giving your nearest center a call to inquire about their need for CPAP machines.

To find out where the nearest center to you is, go to this website.

Donating CPAP machines to community Medical Equipment Loan Closets

Medical Equipment loan closets are a valuable community resource, offering residents in their service area the chance to borrow durable medical equipment. They play a critical role in making such equipment available to low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

Typically, your CPAP machine will be loaned out at no cost. However, for larger and more valuable items such as patient lifts, loan closets may ask for a deposit.

Loan closets can differ in size, but very often are small-scale community projects run by dedicated volunteers, or by a local church and its congregation members.

How to locate a loan closet near you ?  I like to look for loan closets with a few online searches, and if I have no luck, by contacting a few key places (I have done this literally thousands of times, and the following method gets me the quickest and best results).

So let’s take a look at how to do that –

• a good way to start searching online is with the following search terms –  “medical equipment loan closet + your location”, “medical equipment lending closet + your location”, “medical equipment lending bank + your location”, or “medical equipment bank + your location”
• if your online search doesn’t yield any loan closets results, get in touch with your county’s Area Agency on Aging, as they might have information about DME loan closets that you can explore – this locator tool will find your local county agency here
• if the Area Agency on Aging didn’t have the information you were seeking, move on and contact your local human resources or seniors department – they could offer insights on loan closets that might prove helpful to you 
• consider checking out your local reuse or medical equipment refurbishing centers, and again get in touch and ask questions. An online search will easily guide you to these centers
• Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs and American Legion Posts – numerous small community medical equipment loan closets are operated by these three organizations. Take the time to find the ones located in your area and see if they have any useful tips for you

To find Lions Clubs in your area, take a quick look at my guide here – How To Find A Lions Club Near Me ? A Very Quick Illustrated Guide

To find Rotary Clubs in your area, take a quick look at my guide here – How To Find A Rotary Club Near Me ? A Very Quick Illustrated Guide

Bikur Cholim or Medical Equipment Gemacht –  these are Jewish medical equipment loan closets, run for, members of the Jewish community. They, too, will always be very happy to receive the donation of a CPAP machine.

Make inquiries about these loan closets at Jewish senior centers, your local synagogue, or search on the Chesed Match website.

National and International organizations which accept donations of CPAP machines

Goodwill

To donate your CPAP machine, locate a store near you and give them a call – https://www.goodwill.org/locator/

Salvation Army

To donate your CPAP machine, click on the following link  – https://satruck.org/

EasterSeals

To locate your local affiliate to make your CPAP machine donation, use this link – https://www.easterseals.com/connect-locally/

The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations

Their website page for donating CPAP machine is here – http://www.pqmd.org/pillars/donation-guidelines/

Project Cure

Their website page for donating your CPAP machine is here – https://projectcure.org/donate-supplies-equipment

REMEDY – Recovered Medical Equipment for the developing World

To donate your CPAP machine to REMEDY, use this web page here – https://www.med-eq.org/Login/form.aspx?type=donate&quick=1

Advocates for World Health

The page for donating your CPAP machine is here – https://awhealth.org/donate-medical-equipment/

Esperenca

To donate your CPAP machine, go here – https://www.esperanca.org/donate-supplies/

MedShare

Got to the MedShare website to donate your CPAP machine here – https://www.medshare.org/

HERO Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization

You can find about donating your CPAP machine on their website here – https://www.herofargo.org/wp-content/uploads/IndividualSupplies.pdf

MedWish

The page for donations is here on their website – https://www.medwish.org/give

Global Links

To donate your CPAP machine, go to this website page – https://www.globallinks.org/our-work/programs/medical-surplus-recovery-program/individual-and-community-surplus-recovery

Global Mobility USA

You can donate your CPAP machine at this web address – http://www.globalmobilityusa.org/equipment-and-in-kind-donations

Medical Bridges

This is the donation page on their website – http://www.medicalbridges.org/donate/medical-supplies-and-equipment

Online listing sites and other social media platforms where you can donate CPAP machines near you

For me, this is the most practical way to donate any item online because it permits you to gift to recipients as close to home as you wish. You decide where your CPAP machine donation advertisement or posting will be visible.

There are a few precautions you may want to take when donating online –

• in your online posting/advertisement, be sure to mention that your CPAP machine is being donated “as is.” Additionally, state that you will not accept any liability for any issues that may arise once it is handed over.
• remember, that the safety and well-being of any elderly individuals in your home should be your priority, and respecting their privacy is crucial. Having complete strangers come into your home for CPAP machine pick-up might not be the best idea, as it can pose safety risks and create confusion for older people.
• handing the item over in a public place is a better idea, and go with a friend if you feel at all vulnerable
• if you’re considering online classified listings such as Craigslist, it’s advisable to steer clear of using your personal email address, rather opt for a throwaway email address 

The online platforms where you can donate a CPAP machine are –

• Craigslist.com
• UsedHME.com
• Nextdoor.com
• Facebook.com
• Freecycle.org
• OfferUp.com

If you haven’t used the above sites to donate an item, I have short illustrated guides on how to donate new, or used, devices on each one –

Craigslist.com – “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me On Craigslist ? An Illustrated Guide”

UsedHME.com – “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me On UsedHME ? An illustrated Guide”

Facebook.com – “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me On Facebook ? An Illustrated Guide”

Freecycle.org – “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me on Freecycle.org ? A Very Quick Illustrated Guide”

Nextdoor.com – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Nextdoor.com ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”

OfferUp.com – No need for an article on this, as there is a very good video showing how to use OfferUp, see below.

Donating a CPAP machine in your neighborhood

You can also go out and check some of the following places in your neighborhood, and get off the computer for a while –

• Local Hospitals
• Emergency rooms
• Thrift stores
• Senior Centers or Elderly Day Care Centers
• Veterans Centers
• Local Retirement Homes
• Churches
• Your local council Seniors’ department

Organizations near you who may know where to donate a CPAP machine

For additional advice on where to donate your CPAP machine, consider talking with the following organizations –

Area Agency On Aging

I would say, that for advice on available services for seniors, your Area Agency on Aging is the top resource, with loan closets being one of the services on which seniors often rely.

Use the following link to locate the Area Agency on Aging in your county – click here.

Social Services

Contact your Social Services department for information on programs run by charitable organizations to assist those in need, which may well also include loan closets available in your area.

Faith-based Charities

The Catholic Charities and Society of St Vincent de Paul

Across the US, the Catholic Charities and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are deeply involved in programs aimed at assisting low-income families, the homeless, refugees, and victims of abuse.

Both organizations will have chapters well-acquainted with the situation in your area, and the programs and individuals who would most benefit from your donation of a CPAP machine.

To find the chapter, of either organization, closest to you, search “name of the charity + where you live”, in your web browser.

Local Town Hall or Chamber of Commerce

Lastly, don’t forget to check with your town hall and chamber of commerce to learn about nonprofit organizations and charities operating near you, with a focus on the refurbishing, reuse and redistributing of durable medical equipment.

Why isn’t your CPAP machine donation being accepted ?

In some cases, your donation might be declined, and one of the following factors might be the reason –

• the item might be too damaged or old.
• sanitizing the item may not be feasible for all organizations.
• used CPAP machines are no longer be under warranty.
• there could be restrictions imposed by state laws.

Tax deductions on donations

Keep your receipt for any donations that you make to any charities, if you are hoping to get a tax deduction – the IRS will require the receipt for the item.