By Gary Bennett
As seen in the Frederick News-Post Feb. 19, 2020.
In August, 2019 when Frederick nonprofit Federated Charities announced their intention of shuttering their free used medical equipment program (Local Lions Clubs fill void, July 11, 2019), Francis Scott Key Lions Club knew they had to help.
“With a motto of ‘we serve’, there was never a question of our club not stepping up and helping out,” said Gary Bennett, an FSK Lions Club member who took notice of Federated Charities announcement in the News-Post and took it upon himself to make something happen. “This is a needed program that just had to continue in some shape or form.”
As the July 11 news article reported, several other Lions Clubs in the county and surrounding area also provide free medical equipment to all who ask, but none of the three clubs serving the greater Frederick area had participated to this point.
“The need is there,” according to Gary’s wife Ellen Bennett, who is a retired hospice and long-term care nurse and fellow Lion. “Many folks in our community just can’t afford the medical equipment they need, and they fall through the cracks because their health insurance won’t cover this needed equipment. We’ll lend it for free.” Ellen Bennett will serve as volunteer program manager for the FSK Lions program.
“We will serve as a conduit for those with medical equipment to share to get it into the hands of those who need it. It’s really not much different from a lending library,” said Ellen. We will ensure that all equipment is clean, disinfected, and in good working order when it is picked up.
The FSK used medical equipment program will provide wheelchairs, knee scooters, walkers, rollators, bedside commodes, shower chairs, crutches and canes. Those with equipment no longer needed can contact the Bennetts through the regional Lions Clubs website at https://mdlions22w.org/. Just find the tab “Medical Equipment” and then FSK Lions Club. Citizens needing equipment can use the same web address to get help.
Other Lions Clubs serving the immediate area with used medical equipment include Boonsboro, Funkstown, Hagerstown, Libertytown/Unionville, Mount Airy, New Windsor, Smithsburg, Taneytown, Union Bridge, Williamsport, and more. Potential clients are encouraged to contact the Lions Club closest to them.
For the time being, the FSK program will operate out of Gary and Ellen Bennett’s garage in the Ballenger Creek area. “Trying to find an appropriate and permanent home for such a needed program is more difficult that you might imagine,” according to Gary. “I’ve contacted numerous storage facilities and other likely targets such as other nonprofits to no avail,” said Gary. “I know the Frederick community wants to help so if any of your readers know of a facility or can provide one of their own, we would like to hear about it. We need about 300 square feet. We don’t mind giving up our garage for such a worthy cause, but it’s not a good long-term solution for us or the Lions.”
Indeed, finding an appropriate storage facility for the medical equipment is what has caused many Lions Clubs, including the Frederick and Yellow Springs clubs, to not participate. “Lions Clubs serving smaller communities that tend to have their own buildings are more able to provide a service like this,” said FSK Lions Club president Duane Voitel. “We are proud of the Bennetts for stepping up but we need the community to also help us. We don’t mind putting in the volunteer hours to coordinate something like this, but we just don’t have the funds or land to sit our own storage facility on. We’d certainly like to have something more centrally located in downtown Frederick so we can best serve the folks who need it the most. The International Lions Club does provide its own insurance.”
According to Gary Bennett, anyone needing equipment can contact them through the FSK Lions club and have it the next day. Recipients are expected to pick up the equipment themselves, but in certain situations, the Lions can help with that, too. Recipients can use the equipment for as long as they need but are expected to eventually return it so the Lions can lend it again.
“Elin Ross with Federated Charities has been invaluable in helping us set up this program,” said Gary. “They’ve provided valuable consultation and advice and a waiver document that we are using. We’d also like to thank Jim Ensor with the Libertytown/Unionville Lions Club and Dennis Ahalt with the Mount Airy Lions Club for helping us build our inventory and Frederick’s Senior Services Division and Frederick Health Hospice who are helping to spread the word about this program.”
Recently celebrating in 60th anniversary, Francis Scott Key Lions Club has been serving the Frederick Community since 1959. They support a number of local, national and international charities and service projects including vision screenings for children in Head Start, daycare, private and afterschool programs, providing Leader Dogs to blind and low-sight individuals, and providing eyeglasses to those in need. They are part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization with over 1.45 million members in over 200 countries. If interested in joining FSK Lions Club, contact info@fsklions.org, www.fsklions.org, (240) 626-1511 or attend one of our biweekly meetings the second or fourth Tuesday of each month at Capital Crave and Frederick VFW on the Golden Mile. Dinner is at 6:00 pm and meeting at 6:30 pm.