Donating/Recycling Medical Supplies & Prescriptions
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Donating/Recycling Medical Supplies & Prescriptions
August 2012
For those of us with aging parents who come to visit, or if you are or
know someone who is in need of medical equipment, you should know
about a wonderful service available to us here in the East Bay, called
''ReCARES''. This small operation redistributes (as in recycles)
wheelchairs, walkers and other medical assists FOR FREE. They do this
at the First Presbyterian Church (Oakland) parking lot every Thursday
afternoon. Also they are badly in need of medical equipment
DONATIONS. So you if have spare equipment, please bring it to them so
they can recycle it to others in need! (It is unlawful to sell used
medical equipment in California.) This is a wonderful service they are
providing to the community and they are a tax exempt charitable
organization. (See their website at ReCARES.org). They are struggling
to maintain themselves with very few donations coming in, so if you
can support them in any way, please do. N
Sept 2010
I had a knee surgery in January. For a couple of month after
I had to use two large and elaborate knee braces, really
expensive according to my insurance bills. I hope that I
will never have to use them again. Is there a place I can
donate them? They are in great condition. Any ideas where to
take them so they can be used again?
Lucia
There is an non-profit organization run by a nurse called
''homecares'' http://www.homecares.org/ where you can drop off
and borrow gently used medical equipment & devices in one of
several Bay Area locations, including Oakland. They operate
on a shoestring so for example the Oakland location is only
open on Thursdays from 1-4 for drop offs and lending. Go to
the underground parking garage below/behind 2619 Broadway.
The entrance is actually a 1/2 block from Broadway. This
place was a huge help to us after my husband had surgery and
needed a special piece of equipment that our provider,
Kaiser, didn't have. I also recommend this organization to
my clients. (I'm a professional organizer and owner of LET'S
MAKE ROOM in Oakland.) If you donate equipment, they will
give you a tax receipt. Their website is
http://www.homecares.org. Lis
August 2008
Updates on places to donate medical equipment? I have a couple of
excellent quality walking casts like these:
http://www.activeforever.com/p-1750-royce-medical-equalizer-premium-air-walker.aspx
They sell for $80 new, and mine are barely used. Size M. A few of the
recommendations don't seem up to date (e.g., no answer, no return
phone calls, etc.) I've been trying to follow up on Childrens
Hospital (they only take new items, but somebody there supposedly runs
equipment to Belize). And my podiatrist didn't have a clue. Another
friend has various items that may still need donating somewhere, so it
would be great to have the update. Thank you!
Janet
I sell Home Medical Equipment to treat sleep apnea. Patients sometimes ask where
they can donate equipment no longer needed. I give them a flier from an
organization called Home CARES. They accept donations of reusable home healthcare
equipment as well as disposable medical supplies that are in their original unopened
packaging. They. in turn, give these items to indiciduals who otherwise have
difficulty obtaining them.
Contact Home Cares in Alameda County at 510.251.2273 or SF at 415.487.5405. Their
address is 2619 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612-3199.
Daniel
Try DoctoDock.org. I haven't donated anything to them, but my friend has.
anon
June 2007
I seem to recall hearing about being able to donate opened
medications (non-narcotic) (eg. when no longer needed, or after a
family member has died). Does anyone know where I can make this
kind of donation? Thank you anon
Vida 6251 Hollis Street Emeryville CA 510-655-8432 will accept meidcal supplies and
medication. They ship them to South American Clinics.
Kathy
My fertility doctor gave me some free stuff. Someone had left over drugs and gave 'em to
her to pass on & she did. Saved me a mint! So, my advice is to give it to the doctor who
perscribed it.
Because lots of us are broke!
May 2007
My mom recently passed away and I'm wondering if we can donate her very expensive hearing aids. They
were made for her ears and come with a little computer device to adjust the volume and tone.
She didn't use them much cause she didn't like how they felt but we paid about $3000 for them and then a
few years later had them repaired for $450.00 (yikes)....would love to know that someone can use them.
Are there places to donate hearing aids?
thanks in advance
June
My grandmother died a few years ago in Marin, and Whistlestop ( a senior services
organization) was happy to take her hearing aid and glasses. Another organization,
located in San Francisco but serving all of Northern California, is also happy to
accept used hearing aids:
http://www.hearingspeech.org/support.htm
Althea's Granddaughter
I think RACOURSE takes them (see earlier post about medical items to recycle), and
probably tour local Lions club which also takes used eye glasses (look in the phone
book or call your city hall or chamber of commerce to find such service groups).
Heather
March 2007
Can anyone recommend a safe, ecological, environmentally mindful
way to dispose of old/unwanted prescription medications? We've
phoned several local pharmacies, but they don't have a clue.
Thanks!
Grandma who just cleaned out the medicine cabinet, taDA!!
Check out www.recyclemore.com which is a link for West Contra Costa County Household
Hazardous Waste Facility (1-888-412-9277) for how to recycle OTC and prescription drugs.
eve
Dec 2006
Does anyone know where I can donate unused (obviously) medical supplies? Our home
health care company won't take them back and I hate for it all to go to waste. We have
things like screw-top cannulas, vials for bloodwork, sterile face masks, and many other
odds and ends.
Any ideas?
Not a nurse, but starting to feel like one...
We took our unused home medical supplies to Childrens Hospital Oakland. The
oncology clinic (in the outpatient building) sends them out to other medical
facilities in need down in South America.
Amy
RACORSE Network
Please Call: (510) 251-2273
Drop-off or Pickup: Call to make arrangements.
General Info: Accepts reusable home healthcare equipment and materials &
Medical Surplus and supplies: crutches, canes, walkers, wheel chairs, oxygen
equip., gauze, and much more. They also have a facility in San Francisco
415-487-5405.
The RACORSE Network's Home CARES Equipment Recyclers program is an
innovative hybrid, marrying an environmental mission with a community
healthcare approach.
Home CARES leverages community resources by accepting used durable medical
equipment and surplus home healthcare supplies and putting them in the hands
of low-income people in need.
Heather
AIMS, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, a charity run by Mata
Amritananda Mayi in Kerala, India, may take them. Check out
http://www.amma.org, and look into the San Ramon ashram here in teh bay
area, which is where they organize the donations yogini
August 2005
I have an unopened package of injectable fertility medication
(Follistim) left over from infertility treatments last winter.
It expires next spring, before I'd be ready to try for another
kid. It cost me about $300 - is there some legal way to sell or
donate it, given that it's a prescription med? I hate to just
throw it away. If I can't re-sell, maybe there's a program that
helps people who can't afford fertility meds or something like
that?
My doctor's office was willing to pass along my still-sealed meds to patients who
needed them. If you think the medical practice is organized enough to do that, you
might call and see if they'll take them off your hands and give them to someone
who's struggling to pay for their treatments.
Anon
Depending on where you bought them some places will refund you -
i know apothicary.com does. Or i would return them to your
doctor. Personally i would be worried about liability giving
them or selling them personally.
ivf mama
There is a yahoo groups list for women experiencing
infertility, and they maintain a list of members who do not have
insurance coverage for medication and would like donated
fertility meds:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BabyOne/
Hope this helps.
Anon
I gave mine back to my doctor and told him to give it to
someone who could not afford it.
m
May 2004
Anyone know where I can donate almost 100 insulin syringes? My gestational
diabetes days are officially over...
- No Longer On Insulin
NEED is a needle exchange program loosely affiliated with the Berkeley
Free Clinic. They would really appreciate a needle donation, as that is
the most expensive part of the not very well funded program. You can
do a drop off at any one of their 3 sites: Sunday evenings [6 - 8] at their
van outside of the Clinic [2339 Durant], Thursday evenings [6 - 8] at their
van down on Hearst at San Pablo, or Tuesday afternoons [4 - 6] inside
the Long Haul, just across the street from the Starry Plough and La Pena
on Shattuck. Their van is pretty recognizable and the folks are all
extremely nice.
Jean
this page was last updated: Aug 10, 2012
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