Bob McCarthy Foundation Expands Ellicottville Medical Loan Center with New Knee Scooters
A grant from the Connie and Sandy Wolfinger Fund helps the Bob McCarthy Foundation provide additional knee scooters and expand free medical equipment access in Ellicottville.
ELLICOTTVILLE - Last year, the Bob McCarthy Foundation started an agency fund with the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF).
This month, the Bob McCarthy Foundation received a grant of $300 from the Connie and Sandy Wolfinger Fund established at CRCF. Always looking to increase support in the community, this grant was used to purchase four new knee scooters for the Medical Loan Center. Volunteers at the Medical Loan Center noticed that knee scooters had a larger demand than could be supplied, either from Ellicottville or Olean. Thanks to this grant and funding from other donors this year, we can now bridge this gap.
The Bob McCarthy Foundation, in partnership with Interfaith Caregivers Inc., began operating The Medical Loan Center at 17 Mill Street, Ellicottville this past year. The Loan Center has been a success, having a positive impact on those in need of medical equipment and supplies.
“The partnership has exceeded our expectations,” says Loan Center Manager Jon Falk.
An exceptional volunteer group is in place to staff the facility, and with the expertise of Interfaith Caregivers who provide these services in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties, the Ellicottville Medical Loan Center became operational quickly. Interfaith in Olean has moved to a new location at 242 N Union St. that continues to service the southern area of the county.
The Ellicottville location provides service to northern and western Cattaraugus County. All services offered through the Bob McCarthy/Interfaith Caregivers Loan Centers are FREE of charge thanks to the generous contributions from our donors as we do not rely on any government funding.
Jon Falk and Jennette Kent, a volunteer registered nurse, have been visiting medical offices, county agencies, and other facilities to spread the word about the Loan Centers which is driving the increase in clients.
Falk said, “The word is getting out there as we partner with various community service agencies to insure we provide for those in need.” You will see the Loan Center poster in many establishments and now agencies like Meals on Wheels, and county nurses are informing their clients of our services.
The Ellicottville Loan Center location at 17 Mill Street, in the Village of Ellicottville, has a variety of equipment and supplies. Hospital beds, Hoyer lifts, wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, crutches, canes, shower chairs, and bedside commodes are medical durables loaned through the centers. However, many medical supplies like urinary and ostomy supplies, bed pads, bandages, adult diapers, and many more supplies are also provided at no cost due to our generous donors. Currently the Medical Loan Center is open Thursday mornings from 9:00am-noon (or by appointment, call 716-860-2532) in Ellicottville for any medical equipment needs. All donations of equipment are inspected to insure good working condition and sanitized before being loaned back out. We can also provide vision and hearing loss services for those in need.
Again a huge thank you to the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation and the Connie and Sandy Wolfinger Fund for their support. To donate or volunteer to help, please contact the Bob McCarthy Foundation lead, Jon Falk, or any Bob McCarthy board member. Learn more at www.bobmccarthyfoundation.com. The Bob McCarthy Foundation Board of Directors includesAnne Northrup, Kathleen Moriarty Fleming, Katy Arena, Brooke Szpaicher, and Greg Cappelli.