Who in San Francisco will pick up my wheelchair donation?

August 28, 2009 1:47 PM

Will anyone in San Francisco pick up medical equipment donations? I have a wheelchair, bedside commode, walker, and some other significant hardware that I'd like to donate, but I don't have a car. Does anyone know any org that will pick up?
posted by mrgrimm to grab bag (12 answers total)

Goodwill might. Goodwill.
posted by Sassyfras at 1:55 PM on August 28, 2009

Just put them in the free section of Craigslist. We gave away several like items a few months ago... they were gone within hours of posting them.
posted by kimdog at 1:55 PM on August 28, 2009

Salvation Army will send a truck out for free. satruck.com
posted by caveat at 2:21 PM on August 28, 2009

Freecycle
posted by Kafkaesque at 2:25 PM on August 28, 2009

The Muscular Dystrophy Association keeps a sort of "loaner bank" that has been a godsend to a lot of people- not just people with Muscular Dystrophy.
posted by small_ruminant at 2:28 PM on August 28, 2009

San Francisco offices- worth a call.
posted by small_ruminant at 2:29 PM on August 28, 2009

Any Veterans organization should take them.
posted by patnok at 2:47 PM on August 28, 2009

The Cardinal Free Clinics is the umbrella org for Stanford's two free clinics. I used to help run both clinics, and they're always looking for donations. I bet if you email them they could find use for them and a student who'd be willing to pick the stuff up.
posted by gramcracker at 3:16 PM on August 28, 2009

The Vietnam Veterans Association will pickup donations from your house. It's super easy, you can schedule it online. In fact they're coming by here Monday!
posted by radioamy at 10:23 PM on August 28, 2009

Thanks, all. I'll start with the Vietnam vets and then try Stanford next. I'll let you know how it goes.

(I wanted to donate them to some organization in need rather than just give them to the first person who wants them. Also, I may be able to write off the donations (though doubtful b/c my wife gives too much to charity.))
posted by mrgrimm at 8:20 AM on August 29, 2009

Just so you know (and it surprises me, wondering if this is the case in other states as well) Goodwill in California wouldn't accept my used crutches, from when I broke my leg. Said they couldn't take wheelchairs, strollers, walkers or crutches (and maybe other things) because if they were broken or defective in any way Goodwill could be sued.
posted by Rash at 11:58 AM on August 31, 2009

Long and short of it, I called all of these organizations and no one wanted anything except the walker, and they wouldn't pick it up. The VVA did not operate in my area.

And absolutely no one wanted a used bedside commode, even if it had only been used once or twice. (Those things are super expensive!)

Anyway, I hated to do it, but I ended up posting all of the stuff on Craigslist and giving it away to a very nice guy whose cousin also had a major bicycle accident and was just coming out of a medically induced coma.

So, unfortunately, my best advice is Craiglist, even though medical devices are prohibited.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:15 PM on October 2, 2009