Pincher Creek Legion’s medical cupboard program continues to help individuals with mobility issues gain access to medical equipment, and now those responsible for it are asking anyone who has borrowed equipment they no longer need to return it for the next person.

The lending program, run almost entirely through donations, provides free access to mobility aids and other medical equipment for anyone in Pincher Creek and surrounding communities who may need them.

Items can be borrowed for any length of time, from a few weeks to several years, and there is no requirement to be a Legion member or veteran.

“We have medical equipment that people can borrow at any time, like wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc., that people can borrow for as long as they need,” says Lou Burnham, who chairs the program.

“All we ask is if they can give us a donation in return, because we operate on donations to cover repairs and sanitation.”

The program began shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic, when a number of walkers and canes were donated to the Legion. A member suggested that the branch should start a lending program, and the idea took hold, but the pandemic forced a delay.

When the pandemic passed and life returned to normal, the program was quickly reorganized. Volunteers built a dedicated 225-square-foot room in the basement of the Legion to house the growing collection of donated medical equipment.

Since then, residents have continued to make their mark on the program by donating their own medical equipment that’s no longer in use. Community generosity has been so plentiful, the equipment storage room is now packed to the brim with dozens of items.

Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, shower chairs, raised toilet seats and more are all free to borrow for those who need them.

Medical cupboard committee chairwoman Lou Burnham, left, and Legion president Maggie Christians display some of the many mobility aids in stock at the Pincher Creek Legion branch.

“It’s getting busier all the time, which is what we wanted. We wanted people to use it,” says Lou, noting that the program had seven requests in five days the previous week.

While the total number is unknown, Lou estimates that hundreds of individuals have benefited from the program since January 2023.

Most might expect the majority of users to be seniors, she says, but the age range is actually much wider. Some who have directly benefited from the program are in their 40s and 50s.

“We don’t have a lot of young people, but we do still have some in their 20s using it because of [an injury] or a disability,” Lou says.

Demand for the program remains strong, with the Legion looking to expand the storage space and its operating capabilities in the near future.

A new 400-square-foot room is in the planning stages, and it’s hoped construction can begin in spring once engineering reports are finalized and approvals are in place.

It’s also hoped that a sanitizer can be added to the room to ease the workload on volunteers, who currently have to sanitize each item by hand. While the expected cost would be about $50,000, Lou is hopeful the Legion and community can make it a reality.

In the meantime, volunteers continue to focus on ensuring that those in need of medical equipment can gain easy access to it.

“If someone is finished with a piece of equipment, we’d really appreciate getting it back, because there’s always someone else who needs it,” Lou says.

Residents who wish to return borrowed items, donate equipment or learn more about the medical cupboard program can stop by the Pincher Creek Legion during operating hours.

For assistance and inquiries, the branch can also be reached at 403-627-4024 or at rclegion43@outlook.com.