Making a life-changing impact for someone in need is as simple as donating your gently used wheelchair, manual, or electric. Millions of people around the world need a wheelchair to live a basic existence, but cannot purchase one for themselves.
This article is a simple guide of all the possibilities for donating used wheelchairs. Why not explore the wheelchair donation options below and make positive change in the lives of others.
This article serves as a helpful guide for donating used disability equipment.
Where to donate a wheelchair ? A gently used wheelchair can be donated to –
- Wheelchair charities
- 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 listing websites and social media platforms
Contents Overview & Quicklinks
Donating wheelchairs to specific wheelchair charities
Donating wheelchairs to State Assistive Technology Programs
Donating a wheelchair to refurbishing and reuse Centers
Donating a wheelchair to Centers for Independent Living
Donating a wheelchair to Loan Closets
National and international organizations which accept medical equipment donations
Online listing sites where you can donate a wheelchair near you
Donating a wheelchair in your neighborhood
Organizations near you which may know where to donate a wheelchair
Donating a wheelchair to specific wheelchair charities and initiatives
ALS Association
At the top of their list of equipment are power wheelchairs, power wheelchair accessories, manual wheelchairs and transport wheelchairs.
Their website is here –
https://www.als.org/dc-md-va/local-care-services/medical-equipment-loan-closet
American Mobility Outreach
The foundation accepts donations of power wheelchairs.
Their website donations page is here –
https://www.twtcenters.com/need-a-power-chair
FODAC – Friends of disabled adults and children
Top of their list of “Items of Greatest Need” is wheelchairs, both manual and power wheelchairs.
Their website page for donations is here –
https://fodac.org/donate/medical/
Hope Haven International
They collect wheelchairs for people who need them around the world.
Their website page about donating wheelchairs is here –
http://hopehaveninternational.org/
Joni And Friends
Wheels For The World is the name of their initiative to get wheelchairs to those who need them around the world.
Their website donation page for the initiative is here –
https://joniandfriends.org/wheels-for-the-world/donate-a-wheelchair/
The Kids Equipment Network
Wheelchairs are not the only equipment requested, but manual and power wheelchairs are the top of the list for this organization, which helps children with special needs.
Their website page for Donations is here –
LifeNets
The organization has an initiative called “Wheelchair Project” –
“The program is designed to facilitate the exchange of wheelchairs between individuals and is not for the use of vendors or distributors.”
Source: LifeNets website.
You can donate both power and manual wheelchairs.
The website page about the initiative and donating is here –
https://lifenets.org/programs/wheelchairs/
Living Hope Wheelchair Association
Accepts donations of wheelchairs
Their website donation page is here –
https://www.lhwassociation.org/donate
Email – livinghope@lhwassociation.org
Mobility Equipment Recyclers of New England
This is a business, and not a charity, but they resell the refurbished manual and power wheelchairs at 50-90% off the MRSP
The website is here –
https://mobilityequipmentforless.com/pages/recycle-mobility-and-medical-equipment
Muscular Dsytrophy Association
The MDA accepts donations of manual and electric wheelchairs at their different locales across the US.
The website is here –
The Wheelchair Recycler
Wheelchairs are collected and refurbished and sold –
“used power wheelchairs at little or no expense to the new user. Most equipment is 90% below market value.”
Their website is here –
Donating a wheelchair to State Assistive Technology Programs
State Assistive Technology Programs (AT Programs) – are a great option for the donation of a wheelchair of any type.
The programs are established with a federal grant to give greater access, in a state, to what are called assistive technologies – these include most durable medical equipment.
The programs’ main focus is on increasing access for low income families, the disabled and the elderly.
Non-profit organizations will often work hand-in-hand with the State Assistive Technology Programs, with a focus on low income families, the disabled and the elderly.
State AT Programs will generally have –
- equipment lending libraries
- online equipment exchanges
- demonstration centers
- reuse and refurbishing centers
A wheelchair donation will be entered into the catalog of equipment to be redistributed to others who use the AT program to gain access to the equipment that they require. The wheelchair may be loaned out many times during its lifetime, helping a maximum of people.
If you wish to learn more about donating to your particular state AT program, click on your state in the list below.
Click on your state to go to your State AT Program website
Donating a wheelchair to Refurbishment and Reuse Centers
Donating your wheelchair to either a refurbishing center, or a reuse center, is another option which will enable your wheelchair to be of benefit to other people positively.
The medical equipment refurbishment centers will happily take your donation, complete any required repairs, sanitize it, and then find a new home for it.
The reuse centers will also happily accept equipment, but typically it is offered “as is” to someone else, without any work been done to either repair or sanitize it.
It is commonly the case that both medical equipment refurbishing centers and reuse centers will pass on their donations to the public at the lowest possible cost, or for free.
To find a center of either type near you, just do a search on the internet.
Donating a wheelchair to a Center for Independent Living (CIL)
Another very deserving option for your donation is the local CIL, which provide services to individuals with disabilities so that they may live independently in the community.
Centers for Independent Living
“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
Most CILs will have medical equipment loan closets to help support their disabled members, making this the ideal place to donate your wheelchair for the benefit of others less fortunate than yourself, and who will so appreciate the gift.
To find and contact the nearest center to you, go to this website.
Donating a wheelchair to community medical equipment loan closets
If you donate your wheelchair to a medical equipment loan closet, it will be loaned out repeatedly, helping a maximum of individuals.
Community equipment loan closets lend durable medical equipment, assistive devices, and sometimes give away medical supplies to community members in their service area.
These loan closets are of a great benefit to those in need, in particular seniors and individuals with disabilities, they often fill in the gaps for those who cannot afford their own equipment, or perhaps have no insurance. That is not to say that they only lend equipment to those in need, and typically will lend to anyone in their community.
How to find a loan closet ? –
To start, do as I do, and try 4 online searches, and if that doesn’t work try contacting a number of concerned organizations –
- I do the 4 following searches in the order that you see them here – “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 nothing came up in your online search, make inquiries with your county Area Agency on Aging – they are in the service of the over 60s and will be a valuable source of information- you’ll be able to use the official agency locator tool here
- make inquiries with your town, or city council, human resources or seniors department, and ask if they manage any medical loan closets for the local community
- look into local reuse or medical equipment refurbishing centers, and contact them
- Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs and American Legion Posts run many small loan closets for their communities, so I would track down some clubs and posts close to you and make inquiries there as well
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 – (Jewish medical equipment loan closets)
These loan closets are run by, and for, the Jewish community.
To find one in your area, you can ask at the local Jewish senior center, synagogue, or search online at the Chesed Match website.
National and International organizations which accept donations of a wheelchair
Goodwill
To donate your wheelchair, locate a store near you and give them a call – https://www.goodwill.org/locator/
Salvation Army
To donate your wheelchair, click on the following link – https://satruck.org/
EasterSeals
To locate your local affiliate to make your wheelchair donation, use this link – https://www.easterseals.com/connect-locally/
The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations
Their website page for donating a wheelchair is here – http://www.pqmd.org/pillars/donation-guidelines/
Project Cure
Their website page for donating your wheelchair is here – https://projectcure.org/donate-supplies-equipment
REMEDY – Recovered Medical Equipment for the developing World
To donate your wheelchair 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 wheelchair is here – https://awhealth.org/donate-medical-equipment/
Esperenca
To donate your wheelchair, go here – https://www.esperanca.org/donate-supplies/
MedShare
Got to the MedShare website to donate your wheelchair here – https://www.medshare.org/
HERO Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization
You can find about donating your wheelchair 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 wheelchair, 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 wheelchair 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 a wheelchair near you
Posting advertisements for your wheelchair donation with online classified listings, or on social media platforms, allows you to choose in exactly which neighborhoods people will see your offer. This makes donating much simpler from a practical point of view if you have little free time, as you won’t have to go miles to hand over the wheelchair.
You should always be a little careful when donating items online –
- in the item description in the online advertisement, you need to say that you are donating the wheelchair for free “as is”, and that you are in no way liable for any future problems
- if you are caring for an elderly person in your home, your priority is to keep them safe, to respect their privacy and wellbeing, so it probably isn’t best to let strangers into your home to collect the wheelchair
- arrange to give the wheelchair to the new owner in a public place, and if you feel vulnerable, go with a friend
- for any advertisements that you do on classified listings, such as Craigslist, it is best to use a throwaway email address – don’t use your main personal email, as you will likely get it drowned in spam emails
Online platforms where you can donate your wheelchair –
- Craigslist.com
- UsedHME.com
- Nextdoor.com
- Facebook.com
- Freecycle.org
- OfferUp.com
I have short illustrated guides on how to donate new, or used, devices on each one, if you haven’t done this before –
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 wheelchair in your neighborhood
For those of you who are more inclined to do your searching on foot, and in person, try some of the following places in your neighborhood –
- 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 wheelchair
If you need more help finding where to donate your wheelchair, you might want to try talking to some of the following organizations –
Area Agency On Aging
Your Area Agency on Aging is your number one “go to” agency for information for all things to do with elderly services in your county. They are going to know about different programs, refurbishing and reuse centers, and loan closets.
Use the Area Agency on Aging locator tool to find your agency – click here.
Social Services
Another great place to find out about programs taking donations of wheelchairs for individuals in need is your Social Services department, don’t hesitate talking with them also.
Faith-based Charities
The Catholic Charities and Society of St Vincent de Paul
There are many, many charities across the US working with the poor and underprivileged individuals.
Two charities with chapters throughout large parts of the US, which offer multiple services/programs to low income families, the homeless, refugees, and victims of abuse, are The Catholic Charities and Society of St Vincent de Paul. Both doing so with a very comprehensive and evolved support network for the individuals they are helping.
Either charity may know of any individuals in their programs, or other, who would greatly appreciate your wheelchair donation.
To find a chapter of either charity in your area, search “name of the charity + where you live”, on the internet.
Local Town Hall or Chamber of Commerce
See if your town hall, or chamber of commerce, can come up with a list of refurbishing centers and reuse centers close to you who may want your wheelchair.
Why isn’t your wheelchair being accepted ?
There could be a few reasons why your neck brace keeps being rejected –
- perhaps it’s too old
- a used wheelchair may have to be sanitized, and some organizations don’t have the facilities
- a used wheelchair no longer has a warranty
- 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.
I’m Gareth, the author and owner of Looking After Mom and Dad.com
I have been a caregiver for over 10 yrs and share all my tips here.
