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 of 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
• Rotary Clubs
• humanitarian organizations
• on craigslist
• on usedHME
• 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 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 of 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/

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

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

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

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

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

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 wheel chairs 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

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 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

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
 

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

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 the you the donor with the recipient, and so the recipient can organize the pick up 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.

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/

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

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.

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

Physical Therapy For All

The majority of 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 to patients who can’t afford to buy their own.

The equipment includes –

• wheelchairs
• crutches
• canes
• walkers
• braces

To donate you need to contact the organization on the number below.

Address:
31022 Via Mirador
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Phone: 949 735 9955

Website: https://www.ptforall.org

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 –

• stairlifts
• 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

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/

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
• borken 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/

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
• bathr 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

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

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

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

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/

NorCal SCI (Northern California Spinal Injury)

NorCal SCI accepts donations of used durable medical equipment, in good condition, including –

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

The organization puts the donated equipment  both through their online gallery of equipment for free, here, and also distributes to those who have requested equipment and are in need.

To donate equipment you need to got to the website page here and to contact NorCal SCI by email –  info@norcalsci.org .

The organization will put the person in need in touch with you to collect the donation.

Website: https://norcalsci.org/

Phone: 408 458 9863

San Francisco area

A Soldier’s Dove

A Soldier’s Dove is a nonprofit organization in the Bay area which accepts donations of gently used medical equipment, which they sanitize, repair and then gift to those in need – those without insurance, under-insured etc.

The type of equipment accepted –

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

To donate you need to click on the link here, and then to fill out the donation form on the web page, and you will be contacted.

You can also email at – asoldiersdove@gmail.com

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

Phone: 650 590 9111

____________

Society Of St. Vincent De Paul

Has 3 thrift stores  in the San Fransisco 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 Fransisco

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 

____________

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/

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

____________

Share the Care

3205 Montclair Ave,

Napa, CA 94558

Website: http://napavalleysharethecare.com/

Items which are the most in demand are –

• lift chairs
• hoyer lifts
• wound care supplies
• adult diapers
• pullups
• nutrtional supplements
• underpads

You drop equipment off any time on the front porch !

The website publishes a list of supplies available in their newsletter. You can receive the list if you sign up for the newsletter on their website homepage, which you will find below.

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 if item you wish to donate.

Address:

1181 Redmond Ave,

San Jose, CA 95120

Phone: 408 997 9188

Website: https://unicornthriftshop.com/

____________

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/

____________

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/

____________

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/

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

Easter Seals Superior California Loan Closet

3205 Hurley Way,

Sacramento, CA 95864-3898

Phone: 916 485 6711

The loan closet is for medical equipment for residents of the Sacramento area and accepts equipment donations.

You can donate items such as –

• manual wheelchairs
• walkers
• canes
• bedside commodes
• crutches

Just give them a call on the number above to make sure that your equipment is welcome, and to arrange a drop-off.

____________

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

____________

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.

____________

Loan closets in the San Jose area

AbleCloset 

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

The items such as –

• wheelchairs
• standers

You can donate gently used medical equipment.

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 that you need to check at the link above.

Address:

AbleCloset Warehouse

1815 Walsh Ave,

Santa Clara, CA 95050

Website: https://www.ablecloset.com/

Phone: 650 539 4437

____________

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 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 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.

____________

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

____________

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

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

____________

Rotary Clubs in California

Rotary Clubs do an enormous amount of charitable work, and are often looking for donations of gently used medical equipment.

To find a Rotary Club near you is simple enough. I have laid out the steps below –

Step 1/

Click on the link below to be taken to the Rotary Club locator tool – 

https://my.rotary.org/en/club-search?only_rotaract=1

You will come to the webpage below.

Step 2/

In the fields on the locator tool enter –

1. the location – I have just entered California, but you can also enter a city
2. Club Type – Select “Rotary Club”

As I have done in the image below.

Step 3/

Now click on the blue “search button” and a list of all the Rotary Clubs in the area you entered will appear on the right of the search tool, as in the image below.

Step/ 4

In California it gave me 688 clubs !

You can click on the club names in blue, which I have indicated in the image below with red arrows.

Once you have clicked on the search result a page will open, you can see the example below, with all the contacts, locations etc for the particular Rotary Club, and you can just give a call to find out if they are looking for gently used medical equipment for any of their causes.

Craigslist and other sites to give away equipment

If you want to you can use craigslist, or one of the other site I am going to list, to offer a piece of equipment for free, and decide whether or not you want to make it a “pick up only”, charge for shipping, or not charge for shipping.

Now of course on Craigslist you can “create a posting” for very local areas, so you can make it easy for a person to come and get the item.

A couple of points here though –

1) If you are caring for an elderly vulnerable person, you probably don’t know who may come and pick it up, or what you are exposing yourself, and your loved one to. So I would charge for shipping, or drop it off yourself if you keep it very local.

2) With an online posting, you will want to create a throwaway email address just for this purpose, as you can easily get inundated with spam in the email, so don’t use your regular private email for this.

Sites with classifieds where you can donate medical equipment –

• Craigslist
• Ebay
• Freecycle
• UsedHME.com

How to post a donation in your local area on Craigslist

Step 1/

Type into the your search engine “craigslist + your local city or county”, and as you see below, as I typed in “craigslist san francisco”

Step 2/

You will arrive on the page shown below, once you have clicked on the search result for “Craigslist San Francisco”.

In the top left hand corner under “craigslist” you will see “create a posting”, so click on it.

Step 3/

The first screen you get will ask you to pick where in the San Francisco area you want to have your posting – I chose “city of san francisco” and pressed continue.

Step 4/

The next screen you get will ask you to pick a more precise location for your posting – I chose “bayview” and pressed continue.

Step 5/

The next screen you get will ask you to pick a type of posting – you have to choose “for sale by owner” and press continue.

Step 6/

The next screen you get will ask you to pick a category from a huge list – you want to choose “free stuff” (it’s somewhere in the middle after farm and garden) as you are donating your equipment, and then press continue.

Step 7/

The next screen you get will ask you to write your posting and it will give you a few options about contact details – do not give your telephone or address out, and remember to make a “throwaway” email just for the posting.

After this you just follow the process and add your photo of the item and agree to terms and conditions.

You will also get verification emails to make sure that the email you gave is really yours etc.

How to post a donation with UsedHME.com

Used Home Medical Equipment is a “free listing service where people can, buy sell or donate.”

The service is free and works by zip code, so that people near to you will see your advertisement.

Just remember in the following process of listing your donation, don’t give your normal private email, create a new one just for this, as it will avoid you getting loads of spam mail.

 Step 1/

Go to the website –

http://usedhme.com

Step 2/

Select the primary menu navigation button – ” List/Sell Equipment”

Step 3/

That will take you to this page, where you need to fill out your contact info

Step 4/

Your state where you are donating and the zip code

Step 5/

You also need to select “donation” in the text field “Ad Type“.

What will happen here is a litttle different from what I was expecting – you will actually be asked to name a charity you wish to give the proceeds of your sale to.

Yes, in fact you are selling it and the website will give the proceeds to the charity of your choice.

Step 6/

Next select the type of equipment you are donating from the “Select type of Equipment” menu 

Step 7/

Now hit “Submit Ad“, and you are done ! You will be contacted when there is a customer just like in a newspaper ad.

There is a different option available as well –

Once you have filled out your contact information you can choose ” free” from Ad Type field, instead of “Donation” and after you can place your ad with the price at 0$.

The ad will stay for 6 months and costs nothing. If someone wants your item you will be contacted, and you can arrange the pick-up etc with the person who wants it.

There is no option on either method for adding a photo of your equipment to the ad, this is only offered with the paid services.

Where to donate used medical equipment near me

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
• Thrift stores will always sell one
• Senior Centers or Elderly Day Care Centers
• Veterans Group homes in your area may be interested
• Look up the local Retirement Homes in the yellow pages and give them a call

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/

Independent organizations that you can donate medical equipment to that operate abroad as well – not necessarily based 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 pages 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 disribution 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 wheelchairsand other mobility eequipment.

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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