St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program is reaching out to community members in greater St. Louis and Crystal City, asking them to please clean out their closets and basements and donate wheelchairs and other health equipment to the St. Louis Health Equipment Lending Program (St. Louis HELP). The items will be put to use helping others. "We literally are getting calls daily from people needing to get a loved one out of bed,  who are unable to get what they need, whether it be a wheelchair or a lift," said Karen Lanter, executive director. 

Local healthcare professionals report a shortage of this vital equipment and wait-times are worse than ever in securing basic items for patients. Health care professionals and patients report supply-chain hang-ups and increased Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance requirements. These factors are creating havoc in helping and healing the sick in our community.