p Help for people who cannot afford things like walkers, canes, wheelchairs, bed rails, crutches, shower chairs and bedside toilets. q Wheelchairs and walkers are available at St. Catherine’s.
t The warehouse was recently completed and is fully operational. q If you are in need of crutches or canes, St. Catherines can help.
Gifts that keep on giving
There is a new and exciting program right here in Atlanta that has finally come to fruition.
The Catholic Faith Community at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, together with the Knights of Columbus, Council 10660, developed a program to accept and distribute free durable medical equipment (DME) to those in need.
Following the Christian principle of charity, St. Catherine’s Community developed this program to help people.
The goal back at the beginning of summer was to construct a large storage shed, operated and maintained by the Knights of Columbus Council.
The church recently finished construction of the warehouse which is located on the property the church sits on, and the council began to gather supplies designed to make a difference in the lives of people with medical issues who cannot afford things like walkers, canes, wheelchairs, bed rails, crutches, shower chairs and bedside toilets.
The program called, St. Catherine Medical Equipment Warehouse (SCMEW), is a non-profit, all volunteer-based community project that distributes free of charge mobility equipment to the residents of east Texas and beyond.
The need for medical equipment is great, especially when family funds are tight and other daily needs, such as shelter, food, and medications, compete for limited economic resources.
St Catherine’s strives to make a difference in the lives of people with medical issues that need a walker, cane, wheelchair, etc. and cannot afford it.
“This program is a non-profit organization that accepts donations of equipment to help people in times of need,” Dr. Rafael F. Otero said. “Times are tough. People are out of work or struggling to make ends meet. They don’t want to have to choose between buying groceries or buying much-needed medical equipment that can cost a lot of money. It is a definite need here in our community.”
Anyone can drop by the warehouse or call for help.
“It is non-denominational. It is for everyone.” Ortero said. “This program is open to all faiths and races.”
“Anyone can volunteer their time if they would like as well,” Ortero continued. “It is about helping people who cannot afford these things and it helps them with mobility and stability.”
The goal of the program is to provide a safe and secure place to accept and distribute medical equipment for the region and beyond. The hope is to reach out to others miles away in Ar- kansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana as well as other places in Texas.
“We are doing a service to the community here at St. Catherine’s and we are always looking for medical donations to help those in need,” Ortero remarked.
“Our goal is to bring people in from miles away if they need help. In certain situations, it is possible the items can be delivered.”
Medical equipment availability is a first-come, firstserved basis. When the equipment is no longer needed and is still in good condition, the council asks it be returned to the program so it can be given to others in need.
To offer donations of medical equipment, request medical equipment or to volunteer drop by during business hours or call 430-278-4766.
The hours of operation of the warehouse are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and is located at 309 N. Louise Street in Atlanta.