Heart to Heart Medical Lending Closet

Brett, who traveled on the CTA redline from the far South side to rendezvous with us, is thrilled to have a new rollator for his travels around the city. Thank you to our generous donors citywide, and to St. Gertrude Parish in particular, for supporting our vibrant Ministry.

The Heart to Heart Lending Closet recently hosted a group of enthusiastic freshman year students and their sophomore guides from Loyola University for a Saturday of Service.

Sponsored by Loyola's Community Service and Action office, the students helped inventory, clean, and store donated durable medical equipment.

GO RAMBLERS!

~ Laurie Hasbrook, Lending Closet manager

A sweltering August day didn't keep volunteers Fr. Paul Adaja, Andrea and Guy Banicki, Hallie Burhoe, Barb Daly, Peter Morin, Carol Ann Munro, Tom Rogers, Greg Steigmeyer, and Tom Tentler, from loading a 15-foot U-Haul truck with surplus medical supplies from the Lending Closet.

Project C.U.R.E. warehouse volunteers in Woodridge, Illinois gratefully accepted everything.

Hallie Burhoe, Lending Closet volunteer extraordinaire, generously covered the costs of this project. 

Summer has seen wonderful connections made at the Heart to Heart Lending Closet. Ahzea Makhubu, a volunteer for Agape Mobility Ethiopia contacted us in August to see if we had any extra mobility devices. Due to the ongoing support of parishioners and members of the broader community we were able to donate over a dozen walkers, canes and crutches to Agape Mobility Ethiopia.

Closer to home, the Lending Closet phone rings daily with requests from people in need throughout Chicago. Wheelchairs, transport chairs, and shower chairs remain in short supply.

If you have items to donate, contact me at lhasbrook@stgertrudechicago.org or at the Lending Closet office number, 773-973-5464.

Thank you in advance for your generous support and donations.

~ Laurie Hasbrook, Lending Closet Manager

An interesting email found it's way to the Lending Closet inbox this week: 

"I'm a reporter with Brain and Life, the consumer publication of the American Academy of Neurology. We are writing a story on medical equipment lending closets and I wondered if I could speak with someone at your program about what you offer...  Why do people need to borrow medical equipment? Why doesn't insurance/Medicare cover it?"

Health insurance executives and Medicare managers would undoubtedly answer that reporter's question differently than I would. Suffice to say, our Lending Closet fields calls every week from individuals, family caregivers, health care professionals, and even health insurance case managers (YUP!!) who are unable to get durable medical equipment for patients who need it covered by insurance or Medicare. 

Healthcare professionals routinely tell us that it is getting more difficult, not less, to get needed medical equipment covered. Until we have Universal Healthcare, the Heart to Heart Lending Closet provides an invaluable, and greatly appreciated service to people throughout our city. Thank you for your support of this vital ministry!

~ Laurie Hasbrook

There is never a dull moment at the Heart to Heart Durable Medical Equipment Lending Closet. Located in St. Gertrude's Ministry Center, we field calls from all over Chicagoland.

Family caregivers, home health aides, physical and occupational therapists, Blue Cross/Blue Shield caseworkers, social workers from CHA senior housing, Stroger Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Mercy Housing, Thresholds, and The Night Ministry are among the many people reaching out to us.

Recently, we assisted a man recovering from gunshot wounds. Thanks to the generous assistance of parishioner Beth Nelson, a brand-new walker was delivered to Shirley Ryan Ability Lab for this patient. 

As many calls as we get asking for help, we get an equal amount offering donations. Wheelchairs, transport chairs, rollators, standard walkers, knee scooters, canes, crutches, shower chairs, tub transfer benches, commodes, toilet seat risers, toilet safety rails, ice machines, sleep apnea machines, assorted medical supplies and incontinence supplies all find a way to us. Because of this ongoing generosity -- by parishioners, community members and local organizations -- we are able to assist the many people seeking our services. We are grateful to parishioner Linda Jeffers who handles all our donation acknowledgement letters. Thank you one and all!

~ Laurie Hasbrook, Heart to Heart Medical Equipment Lending Closet Manager