Rural Action distributes free medical equipment through Ohio church networks

Rural Action launched a medical equipment donation program in 2021 to provide free supplies to residents in Appalachian Ohio.

The initiative started after home health aide Milena Miller noticed that patients often used medical devices for only a short time before others had to spend thousands of dollars on new ones. Ed Newman of Rural Action integrated these efforts into the organization's Zero Waste Program to keep nearly new equipment out of landfills while helping those in need.

The program coordinates a network of more than 30 church partners and community hubs across southeast Ohio. These locations provide storage space and volunteers to collect and distribute items such as wheelchairs, rollators, and hospital beds. Maria Bonner, the program director, says the network relies heavily on word of mouth to connect people who have extra equipment with those who lack it.

Many residents receive these supplies because insurance plans often exclude specific items or have restrictive limits, such as only covering one wheelchair every five years. The program also helps people who lost Affordable Care Act coverage or face high costs due to rising Medicare premiums.

Tricia Tilley manages a specific site at High Street Community Church in New Lexington, Ohio, where she collects supplies to fill gaps in coverage for items like adult diapers that insurers may deem not medically necessary.