Where To Donate Used Medical Equipment In California: The Complete Guide

For anyone who wants to know where to donate medical equipment in California, I have put together a list of all the organizations, that I could find, to which you can donate.

With each organization, I have listed their location, their contact information, which medical equipment they accept, and any specific instructions on how to donate to the organization in question.

You can donate medical equipment to all the following organizations throughout California –

• the state Assistive Technology Program
• reuse centers
• recycling centers
• loan closets and lending libraries for medical equipment
• private nonprofits helping the disabled in their communities
• Goodwill stores
• Salvation army stores
• humanitarian organizations
• on Craigslist.com
• on usedHME.com
• on Freecycle.org
• on Facebook “buy and sell” groups and Marketplace
• on Nextdoor.com
• on OfferUp.com
• nursing homes

Assistive Technology Programs

Assistive Technology Programs work to provide access to assistive technology equipment for the elderly, and for people with disabilities who can’t afford to pay high prices, or even to pay at all.

In most states, there are nonprofits and community organizations who often work in collaboration with the state AT Program to help increase its reach.

The organizations will often work with the Assistive Technology Programs to reuse, recycle or refurbish medical equipment and AT devices.

To increase access to assistive technologies, and this includes most durable medical equipment, Assistive Technology Programs are given a federal grant.

So let’s start with the California Assistive Technology Program, and then the re-use centers that they collaborate with.

California Assistive Technology Program

Ability Tools – the California Assistive Technology Program

Ability Tools runs an Assistive Technology Exchange website where both organizations and individuals can post AT devices, which include durable medical equipment, for donation or sale.

So, as an individual you can post your equipment here online at the Assistive Technology Exchange website as a donation, if you don’t wish to take it to a reuse donation drop off location. All the reuse are listed in the following below – The CATRC – The California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition.

The Assistive Technology Exchange website can be found by going here – http://abilitytools.org/services/at-exchange-transition.php

Ability Tools is also partnered with reuse programs to post their available inventory on the Assistive Technology Exchange website.

“The reuse programs accept assistive technology and medical devices, repair and sanitize them and offer them to people with disabilities for free or at low cost.” – Source here.

The Reuse programs form a coalition known as the California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition.

Ability Tools also contracts 12 agencies throughout California to run demonstration centers and lending libraries, or loan closets, for AT devices (this includes any equipment which helps you to be able to complete a task you could not do without the equipment, so it includes most home medical equipment) which do short term loans of up to 30 days. So your donation may go here as well.

If you want to find the demonstration centers and lending libraries, they are on the Ability Tools website here.

I have also listed the relevant centers below which work with used medical equipment and accept donations.

The CATRC – The California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition

The following organizations, part of the CARTC, and work to distribute refurbished equipment to those who need it.

You can donate to all the following organizations, or donate on Ability tools AT Exchange website – it is really just a question of logistics.

The different organizations also post the different available items on the online exchange run by the Ability tools AT Exchange website.

There are other organizations which are part of the CARTC, but they do not deal with medical equipment, so I have not listed them here.

ALS Association, Los Angeles Chapter

The greater Los Angeles chapter of the ALS Association (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) runs a “loan closet” for members who are registered with them.

To donate equipment, you need to go to the website and find out the process, or give a call on the phone number below.

Address:
P.O. Box 565
Agoura Hills, CA 91376-0565

Phone: 818 865 8067

Website:http://webgw.alsa.org/

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DAYLE MCINTOSH CENTER (DMC) Reuse, Repair and Recycle Program DAYLE MCINTOSH CENTER (DMC) (Orange County)

The Dayle McIntosh Center’s reuse, recycle and repair program serves people of all ages with disabilities that reside in Orange County.

The program accepts donations of used assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment, refurbishing and sanitizing the items, so they may be made available for reuse.

The items available change constantly, but examples of donated equipment includes –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• canes
• crutches
• shower chairs
• commode chairs
• Hoyer lifts

Address:
501 N. Brookhurst Street, #102
Anaheim, CA 92801

Phone: 714 621 3300

Website: https://daylemc.org

To find out about donating equipment, you can either –

• call the phone number above, or
• go to the site contact page and fill out the form there, and send that in

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INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER OF KERN COUNTY (ILCKC)

Repair and Re-Use

The Repair and Re-Use Program of Independent Living Center of Kern County is a loan and recycle program that empowers people with disabilities by making wheelchairs and other assistive equipment available so that they can live independently.

If you wish to donate durable medical equipments such as –

• wheelchairs
• lifts
• walkers
• crutches

Call the AT Department on 661 325 1063 to discuss your donation.

The equipment is then loaned indefinitely without any fees.

Address:
5251 Office Park Drive, Suite 200
Bakersfield, CA 93309

Phone: 661 325 1063

Website: https://ilcofkerncounty.org

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Disability Action Center (DAC)

Disability Action Centers run a durable medical equipment recycling program serving all residents in Shasta, Modoc, Siskiyou, Lassen, Butte, Tehama, Glenn, and Plumas County who have a disability.

The DAC take donations of used assistive technology devices and medical equipment for use in the home.

The equipment is repaired, cleaned, and distributed to people in the communities who need them free.

The inventory includes items such as –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• canes
• crutches
• shower chairs
• commode chairs
• Hoyer lifts

You can find out more about donating on this page of their website –

https://actionctr.org/services/svcsat/

Address:
1161 East Avenue

Chico, CA 95926

Phone: 800 464 8527

Website: https://actionctr.org

Satellite Offices:

1600 West Street,

Redding, CA 96001

Phone: 530 242 8550

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Independent Living Resources of Solano and Contra Costa Counties (ILR)

The reuse program is for seniors and people with disabilities who are in need of AT devices and DME, and who are unable to pay for them themselves.

The ILRSCC reuse program will distribute the equipment to low income seniors or people with disabilities.

The reuse program accepts donations from individuals.

The devices could be –

• manual wheelchairs
• power wheelchairs
• walkers

To donate, give them a call at the office near you.

Address:
1850 Gateway Blvd, Ste. 170
Concord, CA 94520

Phone: 925 363 7293

Website: https://ilrscc.org

Satellite Offices:
301 West 10th Street,
#18 Antioch,
CA 94509

Phone: 925 754 0539

470 Chadbourn Road,
Suite B
Fairfield, CA 94534

Phone: 707 435 817

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Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living (SCRS-IL)

The SCRS will accept any donations of assistive devices that are in working order, including –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• crutches
• canes
• rollators
• portable commodes
• transfer benches
• sliding boards

To donate, call one of the office numbers below,  and ask for the AT Facilitator.
Website: https://scrs-ilc.org</strong

Arcadia Office Address:
1165 Clark St,
Arcadia, CA 91006

Phone: 626 239 6012

Downey Office Address:
7830 Quill Drive, Ste D
Downey, CA 90242

Phone: 562 862 6531

Pasadena Office Address:
2023 Lincoln Ave,
Pasadena, CA 91103

Phone: 626 587 5010

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Repair and Share Program RESOURCES FOR INDEPENDENCE CENTRAL VALLEY (RICV)

Repair & Share Program is both a loan and a recycle program.

The program that will enable people with disabilities who are in need of power wheelchairs to live independently.

RICV is collaborating with G7 Medical Services, to fix power wheelchairs donated to the program.

The power wheelchairs are then loaned to people who need them while they work out how to get a power wheelchair of their own.

To donate a power wheelchair, call one of the offices below.

Address:
3008 North Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93703

Phone: 559 221 2330

Website: http://ricv.org

Satellite Offices:

710 West 18th St, #11
Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209 383 1683

N. Santa Fe Ave,
Visalia, CA 93292
Phone: 559 622 9276

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FREED Center for Independent Living (FREED)

Through its Reuse Program, FREED loans or gives a variety of equipment, including –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• crutches
• transfer benches
• shower chairs
• bedside commodes
• raised toilet seats
• hospital beds
• patient lifts

FREED accepts donations of medical equipment which is clean and functioning.

To donate, give FREED a call at one of the office phone numbers below.

Grass Valley Office
Address:
435 Sutton Way,
Grass Valley, CA 95945

Phone: 530 477 3333

Yuba City Office

Address:
1100 Butte House Rd, Suite 120
Yuba City, CA 95991

Phone: 530 742 4474

Website: http://freed.org

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Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF)

CALIF reassigns assistive technology devices, under the AT Reuse Capacity Building Grant, to those who can benefit from them.

The articles reassigned include items such as –

• durable medical equipment
• communication devices
• vision products
• hearing products
• mobility products
• assistive devices

To donate medical equipment, give them a call at the phone number below.

Address:
634 South Spring Street, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Phone: 213 627 0477

Website: https://califilc.webs.com
 

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Able People Foundation

The Able People Foundation’s “Giving Program” will identify and give the products to people that are desperately in need.

The organization identifies low income elderly, and individuals living with physical limitations who are in need of medical equipment.

Items that the foundation is looking for include –

• ambulatory devices: walkers
• manual wheelchairs in good condition
• rehab wheelchairs in good condition
• power wheelchairs with battery charger in working condition
• electric mobility scooters in good condition with battery charger
• transfer benches

To donate medical equipment to the Able People Foundation, you must go to their website here, fill out a quick form, and submit it, so they may contact you.

Address:
552A Valley Way
Milpitas, CA 95035

Phone: 408 263 8000

Website: https://ablepeoplefoundation.org

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ReCares (formerly Home Cares)

ReCares is a program that collects gently used medical equipment and unused health care supplies.

ReCares give a list of possible items for donations –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• canes
• adult briefs
• shower chairs
• tub/transfer benches
• chux
• and more

The main center is at –

2619 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612

Phone: 510 251 2273

Give them a call to get the times that you can make a donation, as things will have changed with Covid-19, and at present it says they are closed until further notice due to Covid-19.

The website situation is a bit confusing, as they still have the website called “homecares.org” and a new one called “recares.net”, although the information is the same, and the homecares.org website has the ReCares logo at the top.

Website: http://homecares.org 

or    https://recares.net        

They also have satellite offices –

The alleyway of 63 Dorland St

Dorland St

San Francisco,

CA 94110

Phone: 415 487-54053100

No website

Marin Medical Equipment Re-cyclers

3100 Kerner Blvd

San Rafael,

Ca 94901

Phone: 415 388 8198

Website: https://marinmer.org/

The Marin Medical Equipment Re-cyclers site accepts –

• wheelchairs
• companion chairs
• transfer benches
• shower chairs
• orthopedic supports
• blood pressure machines
• nebulizers
• canes
• crutches
• commodes
• walkers
• grabbers
• wedge pillows
• therapeutic cushions

They also accept the following medical supplies –

• diapers
• panty pads
• bed pads
• latex
• vinyl gloves
• wipes
• and more

If you wish to donate a large item such as a hospital bed or a power scooter, you are asked to call them, so they match you, the donor with the recipient, and so the recipient can organize the pickup and transport for the item themselves.

During the pandemic, the location has been closed at times, so do call before you go to make a donation.

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Convalescent Aid Society – CAS

CAS provides the free loan of wheelchairs, and other durable medical equipment, for in-home use to residents in Pasadena and its neighboring communities.

You can donate all kinds of durable medical equipment –

• hospital beds
• bed trapezes
• quad canes
• canes
• crutches
• bedside commodes
• raised toilet seats
• bath chairs
• transfer benches
• walkers
• rollators
• wheelchairs
• transport chairs

To donate, you can phone on the phone number below and find out more – the website says to just drop by during “hours of operation” – just check this page of the website here.

Address:
3255 East Foothill Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91107

Phone: 626 793 1696

Website: https://www.convalescentaidsociety.com/

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Community Access Center (CAC)

Riverside Community Access Center has an equipment reuse program which takes donations of –

• wheelchairs
• ramps
• rollators
• walkers
• hearing aids
• hospital beds
• suction safety grips
• visual aids for senior low vision program

To donate equipment, phone the number listed below. 

Address:
6848 Magnolia Avenue, Suite 150
Riverside, CA 92506

Phone: 951 274 0358 x103

Website: https://ilcac.org

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Easter Seals Superior California

Easter Seals Superior CA loans durable medical equipment to 13 counties – Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yubasuch – the loans are indefinite and free.

Items they loan out include –

• commodes
• shower seats
• crutches
• walkers
• wheelchairs

To donate equipment to the Easter Seals Superior California, call the telephone number below.

Address:
3205 Hurley Way
Sacramento, CA 95864

Phone: 916 485 6711

Website: https://www.easterseals.com/superior-ca/

To see the locations and contacts of the other 6 sites across California, you can look on their website here.

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Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC)

SVILC takes donations of manual wheelchairs if they are less than 5 years old and in good condition.

Address:
25 N. 14th St. Suite 1000 (10th Floor)
San Jose, CA 95112

Phone: 408 894 9041 ext.204

Website: https://svilc.org

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Center For Independence of Individuals with Disabilities(CID)

CID takes donations of medical equipment and AT devices which it gives it to consumers in need of the equipment.

CID accepts durable medical equipment such as –

• stair lifts
• porch lifts
• elevators
• wheelchairs
• electric wheelchairs
• electric scooters
• walkers
• canes
• crutches
• visual aids

Items need to be in excellent working condition and be “like new” to be accepted for reuse.

CID accepts donations by appointment only – You need to phone one of the numbers below  

Address:
2001 Winward Way, Suite 103
San Mateo, CA 94402

Phone: 650 645 1780 x127

Website: https://cidsanmateo.org

Satellite Offices:
1590 El Camino Real, Suite C

San Bruno, CA 94066 •

Phone: 650 589 8994

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Assistive Technology Loan and Reuse (ATLR)

ATEC provides loans of particular AT devices so that individuals can test them before they purchase one.

ATEC accepts donations for reuse, but you need to enquire before donating.

Address:
1601 E. Saint Andrew Place, Ste 105
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Phone: 714 361 6200, ext.0

Website: https://www.ocgoodwill.org/programs/

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Sonoma County Section on Aging

Sonoma County Section on Aging operates a medical equipment re-cycling program in Sonoma County, providing a variety of medical supplies.

They do not accept –

• CPAP machines
• bandages
• catheter supplies
• needles
• tracheotomy supplies
• ostomy supplies
• tubing of any kind
• IV supplies
• broken or dirty equipment

You can drop off  equipment on Wednesdays only 11am – 2pm

Address:

256 Sutton Place,

Santa Rosa, CA 95407

Phone: 707 360 2498

Website: https://www.sonomacountysoa.org/medical-equipment-recycling-in-sonoma-county/

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The Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society

The Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society provides DME on a loan basis to those individuals living in Los Angeles County who lack the financial resources or insurance coverage to access in-home DME for their rehabilitation or recovery from illness or injury. Donations of items that are in clean and serviceable condition are accepted.

The Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society does not have any physical offices, so any donations have to be scheduled.

If you have any of the following items, and would like to donate, just call the phone number below. You can schedule a pick-up or a drop-off for the donation –

• standard or bariatric manual wheelchairs
• standard or bariatric transport chairs
• front wheel walkers and rollator (seated) walkers
• standard and bariatric commodes
• raised toilet seats and risers
• wheelchair ramps
• patient lifts ie hoyer lift type
• bath transfer benches
• shower/bath chairs
• shower or bath grab bars
• single point and quad point canes
• bed rails
• toilet rails
• crutches

Phone: 818 298 9893
Website: http://www.thedme.org

Donate to independent re-use, refurbishing and re-cycling centers

UCP of San Diego County

UCP – United Cerebral Palsy – recycles gently used durable medical equipment to those in need of this equipment for free.

You can donate durable medical equipment to the UCP.

The equipment you can donate includes –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• scooters
• strollers
• canes
• standers
• bath chairs
• gait trainers

If you would like to donate equipment, call the UCP on 858 571 7803 ext. 115

Website: https://www.ucpsd.org/programs/equipment_recycling.html

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Physical Therapy For All

The majority of the organization’s rehabilitation equipment is donated to nonprofit organizations in Orange County and San Diego County.

Much of this equipment is reused and passed along free of charge to people without the financial resources to buy it themselves.

The medical equipment includes items such as –

• wheelchairs
• crutches
• canes
• walkers
• braces

You can make inquiries on the phone number below, or on their website.

Address:
31022 Via Mirador
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Phone: 949 735 9955

Website: https://www.ptforall.org

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Recycle Stuff

The San Jose State University Center For Development Of Recycling along with the County of Santa Clara and the County of San Mateo run the website Recycle Stuff. Org – if you go to the site, you can pick the category of medical equipment you wish to donate, and there will be a list of recyclers who will take the donation and place it with someone.

Website: https://www.recyclestuff.org/category/medical

Address:

San Jose State University
Center for Development of Recycling
One Washington Sq,
San Jose, CA 95192-0204

Phone: 800 533 8414

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Rolling Start, Inc. – Independent Living Center

Rolling Start, Inc. receives AT funding for Hesperia and Apple Valley Residents, has a Reuse Program, conducts Assistive Technology Training and runs workshops and Group Presentations for the disabled members of the community.

You can donate used medical equipment to their programs – as it includes Assistive Technology Devices as well as DME, you can probably give most anything, but do call and check first.

Though they are not listed as part of the coalition of Reuse Centers, they are listed on the Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society website, listed directly above,  as one of their partners.

Website : https://rollingstart.com/services-and-programs/

There are two offices –

San Bernardino Office

1955 Hunts Lane #101

San Bernardino, CA 92408

Phone: 909 890 9516

Victorville Office

16519 Victor Street, #406

Victorville, CA 92395

Phone: 760 949 7626

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Donating used medical equipment to  Centers for Independent Living (CILS) In California

Centers for Independent Living help disabled individuals to live independently in the community.

Your local Center for Independent Living will most likely have a loan closet, and it may be very grateful for donations of gently used medical equipment.

If you decide to donate an item of medical equipment to a CIL, call them first and do not just show up. The centers will have items they don’t always need.

Below is a complete list of the ILC’s, and their associations, in California, with their addresses, phone numbers and website addresses. 

Goodwill Stores in California

California has over 150 Goodwill stores and donation locations, but not all accept home medical equipment, so do call before take your medical equipment along.

Goodwill donation drop-off locations in Southern California

You can use the Goodwill Southern California Organization website locator to find a donation center in your area, which you will find here –

https://www.goodwillsocal.org/donation-center-locator/

Goodwill donation drop-off locations in Silicon Valley

Goodwill operates more than 35 donation sites across Santa Clara County and San Benito County.
You can locate a site near you using their locator here –

https://goodwillsv.org/donate-goods/?location

Goodwill donation drop-off locations in the San Francisco area

Goodwill SF does not accept medical equipment !!

Goodwill donation drop-off locations in Northern California

You can find out the locations with Goodwill stores where you donate equipment here –
https://www.goodwillsacto.org/all-locations/

Salvation Army donation drop-off locations in California

You can donate a whole range of items to the Salvation Army, including some home medical equipment, so long as it is in good condition.

To donate home medical equipment, or anything else for that matter, you will want to go to this page on their website  – https://satruck.org/
 

You will come to the page below.

Enter your zip code in the box for the service you require, and you will get a map with all the locations and a list of addresses and contact links, as you can see below.

You can pick a site from the map or the list and contact them to find out about dropping your donation off.

Thrift stores which accept donations of equipment in California

The following section is a long list of thrift stores to which you can donate used home medical equipment. It is a growing list, which I am continually updating when I find new stores which accept medical equipment.

Northern California and Sacramento area

Deseret Industries Thrift Store

You can donate gently used medical equipment which is in working order.

Address:

3000 Auburn Blvd, Suite B

Sacramento, CA 95821

Phone: 916 482 1480

Website: https://www.1usedmedicalequipment.com/

Upscale Thrift 

You can buy some gently used medical equipment which is in working order, such as –

• canes
• walkers
• wheelchairs

Address:

2590 21st St

Sacramento, CA 95818

Phone: 916 272 2820

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UpscaleThrift2590/

San Francisco area

Little Shop of Hoarders SF

In this store, I’ve seen items such as –

• walkers
• crutches
• canes

But as with all thrift stores, do call them and make sure that they are still taking whatever type of equipment it is that you wish to donate.

Address:

2610 Bayshore Blvd,

San Francisco,

CA 94134

Phone: 415 797 8402

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Moving Sale

Funky secondhand shop features a vast selection of used furniture, vintage housewares & knickknacks.

This store seems to have just about everything under the sun piled high – including walkers and crutches.

I would just give them a call to check if they are taking items, as it looks a little tight in there.

Address:

952 Howard St,

San Francisco,

CA 94103

Phone: 415 543 6833

Pick Of The litter Thrift Shop

The shop is run by the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA.

They take a wide range of household items, so just give them a call to check that they are taking durable medical equipment at the time of your call.

The website page for the shop is here – https://phs-spca.org/pick/

Address:

1127 Chula Vista Ave,

Burlingame,

CA 94010

Phone: 650 344 1662

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Society Of St. Vincent De Paul

Has 3 thrift stores, listed below, in the East Bay Area in Contra Costa County where you will find the following used medical equipment for sale –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• canes
• quad canes

Pittsburg

2210 Gladstone Drive,

Pittsburg, CA

Phone: 925 439 9064

Brentwood Help and Hope thrift Center

8890 Brentwood Blvd,

Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone: 925 635 3214

Pleasant Hill

2815 Contra Costas Blvd,

Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Phone: 925 934 5063

Society Of St. Vincent De Paul

Has 3 thrift stores  in the San Francisco area to which you can donate medical equipment.

The type of equipment accepted –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• canes
• quad canes

For more information about donations, click here

Website: https://svdpsm.org/

South San Francisco

344 Grand Ave

South San Francisco, CA 94080

Phone: 650 589 8445

San Mateo

40 North B St,

San Mateo, CA94401

Phone: 650 294 8912

Menlo Park

728A Willow Rd,

Menlo Park, CA 94025 

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The Local Flea

To donate your equipment to The Local Flea, you need to go through their parent company, Remoov.

You cannot just go to the store and drop items off.

The website: https://thelocalflea.com/

To donate an item, go to The Local Flea website homepage.

Click on “Sell With Us” in the top right-hand side of the page, or go to the bottom of the page to “I Have Items To Sell”, and then click on “Get Started”.

The brief version of the process –

This will load the Remoov website page, and you will be asked to submit photos of your item, and then you will be given an estimate of a pickup price, if they want your item.

If you only have a small item you are giving away, this may be over the top, but if you have a larger item, and they accept it, it may help you  out.

You may also just deal directly with Remoov, by going to their website here – https://remoovit.com/

Oakland area

ARF Thrift Store

1950 Market Street, Suite H,

Concord,

CA 94520

Phone: 925 685 0908

At present, they do not accept walkers and crutches, but they do not have a blanket policy on all types of home medical equipment. I would call them on the number above and ask if they are currently accepting any home medical equipment.

____________

Free Oakland Up

2809 MacArthur Blvd,

Oakland,

CA 94602

Website: http://freeup.us/free_oakland_up

Everyone can take one free item.

Phone – none, so contact them on the website contact page.

Open Thursday to Sunday, 12-4pm

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Habitat For Humanity ReStore Oakland

9235 San Leandro St,

Oakland,

CA 94603

Phone: 510 777 1447

Some stores take donations of used home medical equipment, and others don’t so just give them a call.

____________

Kingdom Builders

7954 MacArthur Blvd,

Oakland,

CA 94605

Phone: 510 878 2477

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Mastick Senior center thrift store

1538 St Charles St,

Alameda,

CA 94501

Phone: (510) 747-7500

If the thrift store doesn’t want your item, the senior center can probably place it with someone for you !! As always, do call first and ask.

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St. Vincent de Paul Society Thrift Store

9235 San Leandro St,

Oakland,

CA 94603

Phone: 510 636 4252

Some of their locations take durable medical equipment, and others don’t, so you need to call and ask if they are currently accepting your type of item.

____________

3742 Grand Ave,

Oakland,

CA 94610

Phone: 510 763 3342

You should photograph your item and send it to the store by email, and they will tell you if they are interested in your donation.

I have put a link to the page for donating that you will need to look at on their blog.

https://uhurufurniture.blogspot.com/p/donate-furniture.html

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Urban University/urban furniture & boutique

3237 Grand Ave,

Oakland, CA 94610

Phone: 510 835 3165

Donation page – https://urbanuniv.org/support-us/donate-goods/

On their list of items “not accepted”, they do not mention any durable medical equipment, but I would give them a call and check first.
The store supports various charitable initiatives.

Central Valley

Amvets Thrift Store

Amvets sell all kinds of stuff and accept all kinds of donations.

Just give them a call and to make sure that your donation will be accepted.

Address:

4125 E Shields Ave,

Fresno, CA93726

Phone: 559 222 2128

____________

Community Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Stores

In the Central Valley there are 7 Community Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Stores which say that they accept donations of all kinds of items – their motto is -“If you give it we – can sell it !”.

You can check things out on the donation page on the website here.

The main website for Community Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Stores is –

https://hopechestthrift.org

The locations of the stores are –

Ceres

1791 Mitchell Road,

Ceres, CA 95307

Phone: 209 538 5930

Manteca

208 South Main St,

Manteca, CA 95336

Phone: 209 824 5638

Central Modesto

1241 McHenry Ave,

Modesto, CA 93530

Phone: 209 574 9475

North Modesto

4143 McHenry Ave,

Modesto, CA 95356

Phone: 209 529 3078

Oakdale

870 N. Yosemite Ave,

Oakdale, CA 95361

Phone: 209 848 0844

Stockton

6112 Pacific Ave

Stockton, CA 95207

Phone: 209 507 7777

Turlock

2745 Geer Rd

Turlock, CA 95382

Phone: 209 410 7071

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San Jose area

Charity Cars for Kids Thrift Store

2725 Lafayette Street,

Santa Clara, CA 95050

Phone: 408 748 0081

____________

Savers Thrift Store

You can see photographs of  used medical equipment on the website for their stores, so you don’t need to worry about that. They are part of a chain of stores.

Address:

4950 Almaden Expy #20,

San Jose, CA 95118

Website: https://www.savers.com/

____________

Unicorn Thrift Shop 

The website says to call before you take in a donation to check that they are still taking the type of item you wish to donate.

Address:

1181 Redmond Ave,

San Jose, CA 95120

Phone: 408 997 9188

Website: https://unicornthriftshop.com/

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San Luis Obispo area

North County Christian Thrift Store

The thrift store says on their Facebook page that they take donations of almost anything, so that covers most home medical equipment.
There is no website, just the Facebook page, so you may want to call about making a donation.

Address:

9330 El Camino Real

Atascadero, CA 93422

Phone: 805 466 1679

Website: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCountyChristianThriftShop/

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Wilshire Hospice Hope Chest Thrift Store

You can donate gently used medical equipment, household items, collectibles, jewelry and antiques to the thrift store.

Donations are accepted daily at the store from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm and until noon on Saturdays.>

Address:

445 Higuera St,

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Phone: 805 545 5955

Website: https://www.wilshirehcs.org/thrift-store/

Santa Barbara area

Buellton Senior Center Thrift Store 

The Buellton Senior Center Thrift Store is sponsored by the Santa Ynez Valley Senior Citizens Foundation.

It is best to give the store a call if you wish to donate medical equipment as they do not list any particular items on their site

You can find some information on the thrift store on the Buellton Senior Center website here.

Address:

Buellton Senior Thrift Store

56 West Hwy 246,

Buellton, CA 93427

Phone: 805 688 5073

(The store is located on the corner of Hwy 246 and Central Ave.)

All proceeds from the store go to supporting the Meals on Wheels program.

____________

Destined For Grace Thrift Store

Give the store a call if you wish to donate medical equipment, as they do not list any particular items on their site, just items they do not take.

You can find some information on the thrift store on their website here.

Address:

Destined For Grace Thrift Store

596o Hollister Ave

Goleta, CA 93117

Phone: 805 619 0649

(The store is located on the corner of Hwy 246 and Central Ave.)

All proceeds from the store go to supporting the Meals on Wheels program.

Los Angeles area

Amvets Thrift Store

Amvets Department of California Service Foundation has one nonprofit thrift store in Long Beach, one in Fresno and two more in the San Diego area.

The money raised through the sales of donated equipment goes to help veterans, veterans’ families and communities in California.

The stores accept donations of most things, including medical equipment – on the stores’ Facebook pages you can see for sale –

• adjustable/hospital bed
• bedside commode
• rollators
• walkers
• patient lift

Address:

33315 E South St,

Long Beach, CA 90805

Phone: 562 272 7300

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Teamamvetslongbeach/

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Assistance League Conejo Valley Thrift Store

2853 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.,

Thousand Oaks, CA 90032

Phone: 323 2271808

The website says that the Assistance League will accept donations of all kinds of gently used equipment as long as it is clean.

Website: https://www.assistanceleague.org/conejo-valley/donate/thrift-shop/

____________

Deseret Industries Thrift Stores

You can donate home medical equipment which is gently used.

Addresses:

1197 Calimesa Blvd,

Calimesa, CA 92320

Phone: 909 795 0670

16593 Valley Blvd,

Fontana, CA 92335

Phone: 909 854 3946

2720 E 11th St

Los Angeles, CA 90023

Phone: 323 268 7281

____________

Son Of A Vet Thrift Shop

3310 N Eastern Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90032

Phone: 323 2271808

* I found very few thrift stores in LA which will take home medical equipment, but as there was no website for the shop I went through their photographs on Instagram, and there was a picture of a bedside commode. I would give them a phone call and check that they want your donation of you are considering taking it here.

San Diego area

Amvets Thrift Stores

Amvets Department of California Service Foundation has two nonprofit thrift stores in the San Diego area.

The money raised through the sales of donated equipment goes to help veterans, veterans’ families and communities in California.

On the store’s Facebook page, you can see for sale –

• adjustable/hospital bed
• bedside commode
• rollators
• walkers
• patient lift

The facebook page is here –

https://www.facebook.com/TeamAmvetsHilltop/

et

Address: 

Amvets Thrift Store

999 Cardiff St,

San Diego, CA 92114

Phone: 619 651 1650

Team Amvets Thrift Store

3441 Sutherland St #2031,

San Diego, CA 92110

Phone: 619 297 4213

____________

DAV Thrift Stores

D.A.V.  is a nonprofit charitable organization which runs 4 thrift stores which raise money to help support disabled American veterans through a variety of programs.

They accept donations of –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• shower chairs
• commodes
• hospital beds
• canes
• transport bench
• crutches

Website: https://www.davveteransthriftstores.com/

Phone: 800 894 2486

Addresses –

Spring Valley

1049 Elkelton Blvd,

Spring Valley, CA 91977

Chula Vista

L Street & Broadway E of I-5 881 Broadway,

Chula Vista, CA 91911

El Cajon

1130 E Main St,

El Cajon, CA 92021

Oceanside

Cassidy Street West of I-5 1624,

South Coast Hwy,

Oceanside, CA 92054

____________

Deseret Industries Thrift Store

You can donate used home medical equipment which is gently used and clean.

Address:

1773 Broadway,

Chula Vista, CA 991911

Phone: 619 423 2317

____________

Father Joes’s Villages

Father Joe’s Villages accept donated equipment and, which they sell to support a variety of programs.

They have a list of what not to donate, so I think it is safe to say that they accept used medical equipment.

There are 3 stores/donation centers and a daily auction/donation center –

Daily Auctions and donation center –

815 33rd St,

San Diego, CA 92102

Imperial Beach –

Thrift Store and Donation Center

1555 Palm Ave, Suite F

San Diego, CA 92154

El Cajon –

Thrift Store and Donation Center

2325 Fletcher Parkway,

El Cajon, CA 92020

Hillcrest –

Thrift Store and Donation Center

1457 University Ave,

San Diego, CA 92103

Website: https://my.neighbor.org/take-action/donate-goods/

____________

Mission Outreach Thrift Store

You can donate medical equipment which is gently used and clean.

The equipment you can donate includes items such as –

• canes
• crutches
• walkers

Address:

3186 Adams Ave,

San Diego, CA 92116

Phone: 619 528 0026

Loan closets which accept donations of medical equipment in California

Loan closets in the Sacramento area

AbleCloset 

The loan closet is for equipment for children with special needs and accepts equipment donations.

They accept donations of items such as –

• wheelchairs
• standers

The information on donating can be found on the website here.

To donate equipment, you drop it off at the warehouse, but they are specific times and dates on the website, which you need to check at the link above.

Address:

AbleCloset Equipemnt Warehouse

670 Enterprise Dr, Unit C,

Diamond Springs, CA 95050

Website: https://www.ablecloset.com/contact

____________

ALS Association Of Greater Sacramento Loan Closet

The ALS Assoc. has a loan closet which has equipment available to ALS patients only.

The loan closet has items such as –

• walkers
• electric wheelchairs
• manual wheelchairs
• voice amplification devices

So you can donate any of the above.

To donate equipment, give them a call on –

Phone: 916 979 9265

____________

American Lutheran Church Medical Equipment Closet

American Lutheran Church

1114 College St,

Woodland, CA 95695

Phone: 530 662 6338

The closet loans at equipment for free, upon request.

The loan closet has items such as –

• walkers
• canes
• crutches
• bedside commodes
• shower benches

To donate equipment, you can give them a call on the number above.

____________

Davis Senior Center Medical Equipment Closet

646 A St,

Davis, CA 95616

Phone: 530 757 5696

The loan closet is for adults in need, and you do not have to be a Davis resident.

You can donate items such as –

• manual wheelchairs
• walkers
• canes
• bedside commodes
• toilet seat risers
  

To donate, give them a call on the number above and arrange a drop-off.

____________

Parkinson’s Association Sacramento Loan Closet

Phone: 916 489 0026

The loan closet is for Parkinson’s Assoc. members only.

You can donate –

• wheelchairs
• scooters
• hospital beds
• shower equipment

To donate your equipment, give them a call on the number above.

____________

St. Paul Catholic Church Medical Equipment Loan Program

8720 Florin Rd,

Sacramento, CA 95828

Phone: 916 381 5200

“The Health Ministry of St. Paul administers and manages a free medical loan program for parishioners.”

Donations of the following types of medical equipment are accepted –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• crutches
• canes
• bedside commodes
• shower equipment

To donate, give them a call on the number above.

____________

Winters Community Center Medical Equipment Loan Closet

201 Railroad Ave,

Winters, CA 95694

Phone: 530 795 4824

The Winters Community Center lends out the medical equipment to adults in need.

Donations of the following types of medical equipment are accepted –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• toilet seat risers
• canes
• bedside commodes

To donate, give them a call on the number above.

____________

Medical equipment loan closets in the Napa Valley Area

Share the Care

162 South Coombs St,

Napa, CA 94559

Phone: 707 492 3198

Website: https://www.sharethecarenv.org/

_________________________

Medical equipment loan closets in the San Francisco Area

A Soldier’s Dove

This is a nonprofit organization in the SF Bay Area which gifts sanitized and repaired gently used medical equipment, to those without insurance, or who are under-insured etc.

The types of medical equipment which they gift include –

• wheelchairs
• walkers
• bedside commodes
• shower chairs
• wheelchair cushions
• canes
• quad canes
• other bathroom safety equipment

To find out if you are eligible for their help, you can use the contact info below –

You can also email at – asoldiersdove@gmail.com

Website: https://www.soldiersdove.org/

Phone: 650 590 9111

_________________________

NorCal SCI (Northern California Spinal Injury)

Here you will find used medical equipment which includes –

• power wheelchairs (no older than 3 yrs)
• manual wheelchairs
• walkers

NorCal SCI posts donated medical equipment in their online gallery of

free equipment here, and also gives equipment to individuals who have made a request for particular items, and are in need.

To request equipment, you need to go to this website page here.

You can contact NorCal SCI by email –  info@norcalsci.org .

Website: https://norcalsci.org/

Phone: 408 458 9863

_________________________

Loan closets in the San Jose area

Avenidas Medical Equipment Loan Closet

Avenidas, previously known as the Senior Coordinating Council of Palo Alto, has a medical equipment loan closet for those who are ill or have an injury.

The loan closet says it has items such as –

• walkers
• shower chairs
• canes
• other equipment

The website page for the lending closet is here – https://www.avenidas.org/medical-equipment-loan-closet-now-open/

You can donate gently used medical equipment.

The program is part of the Health and Wellness Program.

To donate equipment, you can give them a call.

Address:

450 Bryant St,

Palo Alto, CA 94301

Website: https://www.avenidas.org/

Phone: 650 289 5400

____________

The Bridge Of Hope Foundation

(not really a loan closet, as donations go to residents of the nursing home)

The Bridge Of Hope Foundation is a 200 bed nursing home, a non-profit organization that accepts charitable donations.

P.O. Box 576,

Soquel, CA 95073

Website: http://www.bridgeofhopefoundation.org

Loan Closets in the Central Valley area

The Society for Disabilities Loan Closet 

The loan closet is a free resource lending seniors basic medical equipment.

The items accept equipment such as –

• crutches
• canes
• walkers
• wheelchairs
• trapezes
• hoyer lifts
• slide boards
• diapers
• electric scooters
• bath transfer benches
• bathroom safety equipment

You can donate gently used medical equipment.

The information on donating can be found on the website here.

Address:

The Society For disABILITIES

1129 8th St, Suite 101

Modesto, CA 95354

Phone: 209 524 3536

____________

Loan Closets in the Santa Barbara area

Buellton Senior Center Loan Closet 

The loan closet is a free resource lending seniors basic medical equipment

The items such as –

• crutches
• canes
• walkers
• wheelchairs
• bathroom safety equipment

You can donate gently used medical equipment.

The information on donating can be found on the website here.

Address:

Buellton Senior Center

164 West Hwy 246,

Buellton, CA 93427

Phone: 805 688 4571

____________

The Wilshire Loan Closet or Riso Family Loan Closet  

The loan closet serves San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties and offers a free community resource that will loan medical equipment to those in need.

The items included basic medical devices such as –

• crutches
• canes
• walkers
• wheelchairs
• bathroom safety equipment

The equipment is typically loaned for brief periods of time following injury or surgery, to families who cannot afford the extra expense.

You can donate gently used medical equipment.

The information on donating can be found on the website here.

Address:

445 Higuera St,

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Phone: 805 545 5955

____________

VNA Health Loan Closet, Santa Barbara 

VNA Health owns and operates the Loan closet.

It is the only community resource in Santa Barbara offering free short-term loans of medical equipment.

The loan closet accepts donations of smaller items of medical equipment, but not larger pieces such as hospital beds.

VNA Health Loan Closet

360 Olive St,

Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Website : https://vna.health/services/loancloset/

Phone: 805 690 6235

____________

Loan Closets in the Los Angeles area

Helping Hands Los Angeles Loan Closet

https://www.helpinghandsla.org

This is a free community resource where seniors can borrow equipment such as –

• wheelchairs
• power mobility equipment
• crutches
• canes walkers
• beds
• bathroom safety equipment

The organization serves LA County, Orange County, Ventura County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and San Diego County.

Website : https://www.helpinghandsla.org/how-we-help/care-coordination/medical-equipment/dme-loan-closet

Phone: 818 279 6580

There are no locations listed on the website, so you will need to give them a call to find out where the locations are to donate gently used medical equipment.

____________

Muscular Dystrophy Association

6167 Bristol PWKY Suite 325,

Culver City, CA 90230-6612

Phone: 310 390 6802

Website: https://www.mda.org/

This agency of the MDA in Culver City loans out wheelchairs, and helps with repairs, for individuals with one of forty neuromuscular diseases.

______________________

Simi Valley Seventh-Day Adventist Church Community Services Center & Medical Loan Closet

1636 Sinaloa Road,

Simi Valley, CA 93065

For any questions, call – 805 433 2384

Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/simivalleyadventistcommunityservices/

The loan closet accepts donations and carries items of used medical equipment such as –

• Rollators
• wheelchairs
• walkers
• crutches
• bedside commodes
• raised toilet seats
• power wheelchairs
• patient lifts
• hospital beds
• knee braces
• ankle braces
• arm braces
• wrist braces

The loan closet also carries medical supplies such as incontinence pads

The loan closet is open on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 12 noon.

For any questions, call – 805 433 2384

______________________

The Camarillo Medical Supply Project

300 Mission Drive,

Camarillo, CA 93010

Phone: 805 491 1028

This is a loan closet which is run by the Camarillo United Methodist Church, and it is open to all members of the community and Ventura County.

Website: https://camarilloumc.org/medical-supply-project

At the bottom of the webpage above, there is an email form you can use to contact the loan closet if you don’t want to call.

You can donate all types of durable medical equipment and home health supplies –

• walkers
• wheelchairs
• knee scooters
• rollators
• crutches
• canes
• bedside commodes
• shower chairs

_____________________

Loan closets in the San Diego area

Cecily’s Closet – San Diego

Cecily’s closet partners with The UCP organization of San Diego to make equipment available to families who need it.

The following text is taken directly from the Cecily’s closet website –

“Cecily’s Closet encourages parents to make donated equipment available to families in need directly through the Cecily’s Closet website. The process is simple:

1) Send us a picture and a description of your item to info@cecilyscloset.org or post directly to the Cecily’s Closet page on Facebook.

2) Cecily’s Closet will post the item to FaceBook.

3) Once we find an interested party we ask the interested party to pick it up directly from the donor.  This enables us to scale and recycle more equipment! “

Website: https://www.cecilyscloset.org/equipment-recycling.html

____________

Ramona Food & Clothes Closet

Here is the website page for the loan closet – https://www.foodandclothescloset.org/medical-equipment-loan-program/

The loan closet is part of the thrift store they own.

Address:

773 Main Street,

Ramona, CA 92065

Phone: 760 789 4458
The types of equipment that you can donate –

• knee braces
• ankle braces
• wrist braces
• Post-Op shoes
• Crutches
• compression socks
• neck braces
• back braces
• boot braces
• elbow braces
• canes
• shower chairs
• wheelchairs
• walkers
• handicap toilets

Donating used medical equipment to

Senior Centers in California

Senior Centers will very often have some form of loan closets for their elderly members.

To find out if a Senior Center near you has a loan closet, and needs equipment for its members, give them a phone call.

Centers will also likely know of any loan closets run by community groups.

Donating used medical equipment to

Veteran Centers in California

Veteran Centers are another good place to start to look or to offer equipment to.

To find them, just go online and type in your “location + Veteran Center”, and the location of the nearest one with contact details should come up.

Just give them a call, and ask if they are accepting donations of gently used medical equipment, and if not, do they know of anywhere that is.

Donate used medical equipment in California near me, online

A simple way to donate home medical equipment for free very close to home, and with very little effort or time required, is using certain online listings and social media platforms.

You can create a listing online which is seen only by those who live near you, and you just have a simple pick-up to organize.

About using online listings –

1) I wouldn’t have the pick-up at your home, especially if you are caring for an elderly person.

Good places for pick-ups are coffee shops, a mall, or somewhere else local  and public.

2) Have another person go with you to hand over the item, especially if you are a woman, just to be safe.

3) Create a throwaway email address for your listing – if not on a social media site – otherwise your personal email may get filled with spam.

4) Scamming – there are a lot of people trying to get information, and you need to be careful not to give out loads of information.

Websites and apps with online listings where you can donate used home medical equipment –

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

The description of your listing should be used  to –

• state that you accept no responsibility for any future breakage, or accidents once the item has been handed over
  
• the items come with no guarantees about their condition
• the new owner is accepting your item “as is”
  

As we are dealing with used medical equipment on which elderly or injured people may be putting all their weight, and you do not want to put yourself in a position, where you can be held responsible if someone hurts themselves.

That said, don’t give people items which are junk.

Donate used medical equipment in California near me, on Craigslist

On Craigslist.com is open to everyone to list an item for sale, or for free, it is a classic advertisement listing, and not a social media platform.

You will follow a few simple steps to create a listing of your item.

The listing is available on mobile and desktop devices.

You choose where your listing is to be seen, by restricting it to certain areas, and in larger cities to certain neighborhoods.

Be a little careful about giving out too much information on Craigslist – users do not have a profile, as they do on a social media platform, and you cannot check out who the person is you are meeting.

Remember to make a throwaway email for the listing, especially on Craigslist.

Craigslist also has a garage or yard sale section, on which you can check the photographs that are posted of the items in the garage sales – I know this is not donating your equipment, but you could give your equipment to someone having a garage sale, and it is useful to know.

You can find my illustrated guide on donating used home medical equipment on Craigslist.com here – “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me On Craigslist ? An Illustrated Guide”

Donate used medical equipment in California near me, on UsedHME.com

UsedHME.com is a free listing service dedicated to used home medical equipment.

You can, buy, sell, or donate, used home medical equipment on the website.

It is easier to find used medical items on this site, as it is just used home medical equipment, and you go straight to a page with items categorized by type of equipment – see the image below.

You give your zip code, and only people in your own zip code will be shown your listing – there is an option to add more zip codes around your own, to increase the number of people who see your listing.

Remember to create a specific email for these transactions – they do not have a reputation for users getting a lot of spam, but you never know.

The website does not get involved in any transactions, it is all between the buyer and the seller, or the donator and the and the person who accepts the equipment.

You can find my illustrated guide on donating used home medical equipment on UsedHME.com here – “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me On UsedHME ? An illustrated Guide”

Donate used medical equipment in California near me, on Freecycle.org

Freecycle.org is wonderful if you are looking to donate anything at all.

Freecycle has no buying or selling, everything is offered for free.

To gift your items, you just have to sign up as a member, which is free and simple to do.

You can verify that there are groups in your area, see what people are offering and requesting, all before you join.

You can join groups in your neighborhood, or miles away, the choice is yours.

It is all free, and when you are a member, you can even post requests for items that you are searching for.

You can find my illustrated article on how to donate used home medical equipment near you on Freecycle.org, here – “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me on Freecycle.org ? A Very Quick Illustrated Guide”

Donate used medical equipment in California near me, on Facebook

On Facebook, really simple to donate items to others in your local community.

With a Facebook account, you have two options to donate items –

• “buy and sell” groups
• place listed ads on the Facebook Marketplace

You have the option to only donate in “buy and sell” groups where you live, and on the Facebook Marketplace to post listings to be seen as near to, or as far from your home, as you want.

You just need a Facebook account, which is free and easy to sign up for.

You can find my illustrated guide on how to donate used home medical equipment on Facebook, here – “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me On Facebook ? An Illustrated Guide”

Donate used medical equipment in California near me, on Nextdoor.com

Nextdoor.com is a local community online social media type platform.

You can use it on desktop or mobile, for mobile you just download the app from Google, or Apple, depending on your device.

You can buy, sell and giveaway stuff to members who live in your neighborhood – it all works around the neighborhood you live in, so you keep it all very close to home.

To do this, you have to be a member, but it is free and very east to do.

You can use it on desktop or mobile.

For mobile, you just download the Nextdoor app from Google, or Apple, depending on your device.

For desktop, you just go to Nextdoor.com, and sign up for an account there.

Nextdoor uses your address to put you in the right neighborhood when you sign up.

You can find my illustrated guide on how to donate used home medical equipment on Nextdoor.com, here –  “How To Donate Used Medical Equipment Near Me On Nextdoor ? An Illustrated Guide”

Donate used medical equipment in California near me, on OfferUp

OfferUp is a “mobile first” platform, for selling and buying used goods – it is also available on desktop.

To use OfferUp you need to join, which is totally free.

You download the free app to your mobile, or use the website on desktop.

You can set the area in which you want your listing to be shown, and set items to pick-ups only, which keeps it all in your local area.

I have not written an article on how to donate on OfferUp, as there is a very good video on this, which you can see below.

Organizations near me who may know where to donate used medical equipment in my neighborhood

Most of the following places, if you have one in your neighborhood, should know of local groups or places which are in need of medical equipment –

• Your local Area Agency on Aging
• Social services office
• Local church communities
• Local town hall or chamber of commerce
• Local hospitals
• Emergency rooms
• Private clinics

Area Agencies on Aging

Area Agencies on Aging are public or nonprofit agencies  contracted by the state to provide public services and support, to carers and the elderly adults that they are caring for, at regional and local levels.

Your local agency should be aware of the non-profits, and community groups, in your area refurbishing used medical equipment for those in need, and often providing free used medical equipment.

Give your Area Agency on Aging a call to find out what groups out there which are asking for equipment.

Lions Clubs

The Lions are involved in a great deal of charitable work, and may Lions Clubs will run community loan closets for medical equipment.

With the Lions’ locator tool, you can find a club near you and find out if they have a loan closet, or if they can point you in the right direction.

I have an illustrated guide explaining how to very quickly find a Lions Club near you, which you can read here.

Rotary Clubs

Just like the Lions, the Rotary organization does a huge amount of charity work, and runs lots of different programs through its clubs.

To find out if a club near you is taking donations of used medical equipment, or knows of clubs or other organizations in the area that are, you can use their locator tool.

I have an illustrated guide on how to very quickly locate a Rotary Club near you, that you can read here.

Veteran Centers

Veteran Centers is another good place to start to look or to offer equipment to.

To find them, just go online and type in your “location + Veteran Center”, and the location of the nearest one with contact details should come up.

Just give them a call, and ask if they are accepting donations of gently used medical equipment, and if not, do they know of anywhere that is. 

Catholic Charities

The Catholic Charities run many programs to help underprivileged groups, with food, legal matters, homelessness and more.

The charities are in a position to know what groups are looking for equipment.

The Catholic Charities have chapters across the US, so just look up Catholic Charities in California on the internet, and you find the site for Charity in your area, with their contact information.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of  St. Vincent de Paul, just like the Catholic Charities, branches all over the US, engaged in charitable work.

The charity has many thrift stores, which don’t just sell equipment, but also give used medical equipment away to those who cannot afford it.

Just look them up on the internet – “Society of St. Vincent de Paul + your location or nearest large town”- this will find their contact details in your area.

The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations

Donated used medical equipment is given to underserved communities.

The website page about giving a donation is here – http://www.pqmd.org/pillars/donation-guidelines/

International organizations to donate to in California

MedShare

MedShare is a humanitarian aid organization which delivers medical equipment to those in need around the world.

Individuals can donate durable medical equipment at the three MedShare distribution centers.

One of the three centers is in California –

MedShare

2937 Alvarado ST,

San Leandro, CA 94577

Phone: 510 567 7070

To make a donation, you need to go to the MedShare website and read  and fill out the donation form and follow the instructions at the bottom of the following page– https://www.medshare.org/donate-medical-supplies/

MedShare accepts donations of new, or gently used durable medical equipment, which you will need to deliver yourself.

San Leandro is in the Bay Area, 25 min north of Fremont.

VIDA USA

VIDA is a humanitarian aid organization which distributes used medical equipment and supplies to those in need in Latin America.

One of the three centers is in California –

Vida USA

2424 4th St,

Warehouse G @Dwight Way

Berkeley, CA 94710

Phone: 510 655 8432

To make a donation, you can drop off the equipment at the warehouse at the address above.

To find out about the equipment needed, you can look on their website here – https://vidausa.org/medical-supply-donations/

The Partnership for Quality Medical Donations

Donated used medical equipment is given  to underserved communities.

The website page about giving a donation is here – http://www.pqmd.org/pillars/donation-guidelines/

Project Cure

The organization distributes donated medical equipment to the developing world. Individuals can donate to Project Cure.

Their website donation page is here – https://projectcure.org/donate-supplies-equipment

REMEDY – Recovered Medical Equipment for the developing World

The organization REMEDY takes donations of medical equipment and supplies it to global aid to respond to those in need.

The website page for donating medical equipment to REMEDY – https://www.med-eq.org/Login/form.aspx?type=donate&quick=1

Advocates for World Health

Advocates for World Health distribute donated medical equipment in the developing world.

Donations of medical equipment from individuals are accepted.

The website page for donating durable medical equipment – https://awhealth.org/donate-medical-equipment/

Esperenca

Esperenca is active working in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Mozambique and Phoenix, and delivers their medical equipment donations to poorer hospitals, clinics and community health centers.

Their website page for donations is here – https://www.esperanca.org/donate-supplies/

The Esperenca wishlist is here – https://www.esperanca.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Medical-Supply-Wishlist.pdf

HERO Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization

The organization receives, refurbishes and redistributes medical equipment.

The distribution goes both through their own retail store and also sends equipment around the globe with medical mission teams.

You can drop off donations at their store in Fargo, ND.

You will find out more on their website here – https://www.herofargo.org/wp-content/uploads/IndividualSupplies.pdf

MedWish

“MedWish International is a not-for-profit organization that saves lives and the environment by repurposing discarded medical supplies and equipment to provide humanitarian aid to people in need.”

Source: https://www.medwish.org/

If you are donating, you will have to either ship the equipment to, or drop it off, at the MedWish warehouse.

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

Global Links

Global Links collects unused  medical equipment and ships it to poorer hospitals abroad.

Global Links will accept medical equipment from individuals.

To learn more about making a donation, look at this website page – https://www.globallinks.org/our-work/programs/medical-surplus-recovery-program/individual-and-community-surplus-recovery

Global Mobility USA

 
Global Mobility USA is a nonprofit humanitarian organization helping people with disabilities across the globe with the mobility equipment that they need.

Global Mobility USA accepts donations of wheelchairs and other mobility equipment.

You can contact them here – http://www.globalmobilityusa.org/equipment-and-in-kind-donations

Medical Bridges

Medical Bridges is another organization sending medical equipment to underserved communities around the globe.

Medical Bridges accepts donations of all kinds of Medical supplies and equipment.

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

Tax deductions on donations

Keep the receipt for any donations of medical equipment that you make to any registered charities if you are hoping to get a tax deduction.

The IRS will require a receipt for the item.

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