2025
STLHELP Provides Free Home Medical Equipment Regardless of Insurance, Age, Diagnosis or Income
A typical day at STLHELP reminds us all of how this charity works for all of us. A daughter returned the equipment her mother once relied on to remain at home. Her mother lived independently until age 91, thanks in part to the wheelchair and medical equipment she received through STLHELP many years ago.
The daughter shared that without access to that equipment, her mother would likely have entered institutional care much earlier. Instead, she was able to remain at home, surrounded by what was familiar and meaningful to her, for many more years.
That is the quiet, lasting impact your generosity makes possible.
1. Older Adults Served
In 2025, STLHELP served 2,787 neighbors across the St. Louis region — including 1,566 older adults age 60 and over who received life-changing medical equipment to support safe mobility, better health outcomes, and independence at home.
From walkers and wheelchairs to hospital beds and bathroom safety equipment, we help older adults avoid unnecessary hospital stays, reduce fall risk, and remain connected to their families and communities.
2. Children Served
STLHELP provided medical equipment to 171 children in 2025, an increase from 140 children in 2024.
This growth reflects rising community need and expanded pediatric partnerships. Access to the right equipment allows children to heal safely at home, attend school, and participate more fully in daily life — while easing financial strain on families navigating medical challenges.
3. Total Neighbors Served
Across all ages, 2,787 individuals received essential home medical equipment through STLHELP in 2025 — a 6% increase over 2024.
Each client served represents a person who was able to recover at home, move safely, or remain independent — often at a moment when purchasing equipment would have been financially impossible.
4. Medical Equipment Loaned
In 2025, STLHELP loaned 8,058 pieces of medical equipment back into the community — a 69% increase over 2024.
Each item — whether a wheelchair, walker, shower chair, or hospital bed — represents dignity restored, mobility regained, and stress lifted for individuals and caregivers alike.
5. Environmental Impact
Through reuse and refurbishment, STLHELP diverted 196 tons of medical equipment from landfills in 2025, a 15% increase over the previous year.
By extending the life of durable medical equipment, we protect the environment while ensuring vital resources remain accessible to those who need them most.
6. Community Powered
This work is made possible by hundreds of equipment donors, volunteers, healthcare partners, and community organizations who believe that mobility, safety, and dignity should never depend on income.
Together, we turn generosity into access — and unused equipment into hope.
