Palm Healthcare Foundation is proud to announce they have awarded a $25,000 grant to Clinics Can Help (CCH) to more efficiently provide durable medical equipment to Palm Beach Countys underserved. With this grant, Clinics Can Help has been able to grow their medical equipment Lending Closet program to reach more of Palm Beach Countys less fortunate. “We are extremely grateful for this grant from Palm Healthcare Foundation,” said Owen ONeill, president of Clinics Can Help. “As a nurse I was always meeting patients from both ends of the spectrum, those who had medical equipment they wanted to donate and those in need of medical equipment.”
(l-r) Tony Lofaso, H. Bryant Sims, Esq., Jan Rodusky of Palm Healthcare Foundation, Dr. Faustino Gonzales, Owen ONeill.
Seeing the need and the obvious solution, ONeill and his colleagues, in 2005, established CCHs Lending Closet program. They began collecting supplies, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds and crutches, and were soon able to begin distributing the equipment to clinics as well as individuals. “We try to help the free clinics knowing that with support they can help a great deal of people, but we also see the need to directly help local people get medical supplies,” said ONeill. “There are over 250,000 people at the poverty level in this county. It was our vision to provide the needed equipment and services to those who cannot afford them.”
With funding provided by Palm Healthcare Foundation, CCH has been able to purchase, insure, and fuel a truck to pick-up and deliver the equipment; purchase a cellular phone and service to coordinate deliveries; purchase a lap top; create a website; create and print brochures; and hire an accountant. These new items help to expedite the pick up and delivery of donated items, and increase awareness of the organization to reach Palm Beach Countys residents in need.
