Where To Donate An Oxygen Tank ?

Donating your gently used oxygen tank can be life-changing for someone in need. As someone who faces the challenge regularly of finding economical durable medical equipment for my mom, I hope that you will find an option that suits you from the lists below and help bring about a positive change for others.

This article provides a straightforward guide to the various options available for donating used oxygen tanks.

Where to donate an oxygen tank ? A gently used oxygen tank 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
• veterinarian clinics
• 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 oxygen tanks to State Assistive Technology Programs

State Assistive Technology Programs (AT Programs)  –  donating your oxygen tank to an AT program ensures its reuse, time and again, by others in need.

State AT programs are dedicated to enhancing access to assistive technology devices, including durable medical equipment, 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 donation of the oxygen tank to the state AT program means it will be included in the inventory of durable medical equipment available for loan to individuals in need, who have to use the state AT program to obtain their essential devices.”

To see how to donate your oxygen tank 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 an oxygen tank to Refurbishment and Reuse Centers

Medical equipment refurbishment and reuse centers offer another good option for you to donate your oxygen tank.

Donating a gently used oxygen tank to refurbishment centers is always to be encouraged, as they will carefully sanitize it and, if necessary, do any repairs before passing it on to someone who requires it.

On the whole, these centers are as non-profit organizations, providing the equipment at very reasonable prices, or even free of charge.

Reuse centers are a little different, in that they mainly focus on redistributing the equipment, and do not typically undertake sanitizing or repairing equipment.

Similarly to the refurbishment centers, reuse often offer the equipment at low cost, or for free to individuals in need.

You will have to ask the center in question, if you want to know if your donation will be gifted or sold.

Donating oxygen tanks to Centers for Independent Living

A Center for Independent Living (CIL) helps those with disabilities to live independently within their 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

If you’re looking to donate specifically to individuals with disabilities, then give your local Center for Independent Living a call. They maintain loan closets with all types of assistive and durable medical equipment, and your oxygen tank might be highly appreciated.

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

Donating oxygen tanks to community Medical Equipment Loan Closets

You can support your local community by donating your oxygen tank to a community medical equipment loan closet.

These valuable community resources enable residents to borrow durable medical equipment, providing essential support to individuals requiring such assistance – low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

In most cases, your oxygen tank will be loaned out free of charge, but for larger high-value items like patient lifts, a deposit might be requested.

Loan closets can vary in size, with many being small community affairs run by a committed team of volunteers.

How to locate a loan closet near you ?  I like to look for loan closets by doing a few specific online searches, and if that fails, by contacting a few key places (I have done this literally thousands of times).

So let’s see how to do that –

• I start online is with these 4 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 you come up empty-handed after the above online search, the next step is to contact your county’s Area Agency on Aging next – they help seniors access services, so they should know about loan closets. Go to this locator tool to find your county agency. here
• if the Area Agency on Aging didn’t have the answers you were looking for, get in touch with your local human resources or seniors department. They may have helpful information about loan closets that fulfills your needs
• consider checking out your local reuse or medical equipment refurbishing centers, and explore the options available
• Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs and American Legion Posts – these three organizations very often run small community medical equipment loan closets – I have come across many in my research. Locate the ones closest to you, and gather more information about their loan closet facilities

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. They are run for, and by, members of the Jewish community. Most will always be grateful of a donation of an oxygen tank.

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 oxygen tank

Goodwill

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

Salvation Army

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

EasterSeals

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

The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations

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

Project Cure

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

REMEDY – Recovered Medical Equipment for the developing World

To donate your oxygen tank 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 oxygen tank is here – https://awhealth.org/donate-medical-equipment/

Esperenca

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

MedShare

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

HERO Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization

You can find about donating your oxygen tank 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 oxygen tank, 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 oxygen tank 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 oxygen tanks near you

From my point of view, this is the most practical way to donate an item online, allowing you to donate to recipients in your preferred local areas. You get to decide in which areas your donation advertisement or posting will be visible to others.

Here are some precautions you may want to think about before making an online donation –

• in your posting/advertisement, you want to make it clear that the oxygen tank is being donated “as is,” and you won’t be held responsible for any problems that arise after the hand-over
• you want to prioritize the safety and well-being of elderly individuals in your home above all else. Taking into account their privacy and comfort, it might not be advisable to have strangers come into your home for oxygen tank pick-up
• opt for a public location to hand over your oxygen tank, and go with a friend if you feel at all vulnerable
• if you are donating on an online classified listing such as Craigslist, I would create a throwaway email address, avoid using your personal email address

The online platforms where you can donate an oxygen tank 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 an oxygen tank in your neighborhood

If you prefer to go door to door with your donation, you’ll find a variety of equally good options right 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 an oxygen tank

If you want to talk to someone about where to donate your oxygen tank, consider talking with the following organizations –

Area Agency On Aging

When it comes to finding information about services available to seniors, your Area Agency on Aging should be your primary resource. And of course, medical equipment loan closets are among the services most frequently sought after by seniors.

Locate the Area Agency on Aging in your county – click here.

 Social Services

For information about available resources, go see your Social Services department; they are well-acquainted with charitable programs, such as loan closets, that can support individuals in need, and may be able to connect you with the right people for donations.

Faith-based Charities

The Catholic Charities and Society of St Vincent de Paul

Both the Catholic Charities and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul actively operate programs for the benefit of low-income families, the homeless, refugees, and victims of abuse across the US.

With their in depth understanding of local needs, they can guide you on how and where to donate your oxygen tank in your area.

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

Local Town Hall or Chamber of Commerce

Finally, head on over to your town hall and chamber of commerce. Ask about nonprofit organizations and charities operating in the area that are involved in refurbishing and redistributing durable medical equipment. 

Why isn’t your oxygen tank donation being accepted ?

There are instances when your donation might be rejected, and some common reasons include –

• the item is too beat up or old
• it requires sanitization, which not everyone can handle
• used oxygen tanks no longer carry a warranty
• it may not comply with 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.