DAYTON, Va. — Woodmen of the World associate Yvette Auville believes that helping others is a meaningful act that's with you through life.
Auville, a member of the Woodmen of the World Lodge in Dayton, Va., is committed to lending a hand – or in this case, a crutch or a walker – to help those in need.
In 2001, Auville helped establish the "Community Loaner Closet," and currently works with Faye Armentrout, a physical therapist at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg. The "Loaner Closet" is a program that provides durable medical equipment to low-income individuals who are without medical insurance and are Medicaid-dependent. The program partners Woodmen of the World with Rockingham Memorial Hospital, and Auville oversees the program's daily activities.
"If you sprain an ankle and need crutches for two weeks, we will loan them," Auville said. "This helps someone not to have to pay for a set of crutches."
Therapists from Rockingham Memorial Hospital volunteer their time to clean the equipment after it is loaned out. Additionally, the therapists recertify that the equipment is safe to loan.
In its five years, the program has provided more than 300 people with walkers, crutches and wheelchairs for long-term and short-term medical needs.
"I have had people cry because they had so many doors closed to them and then someone told them about the 'Loaner Closet' and we opened a door for them," Auville said.
To donate durable, ambulatory medical equipment that is in acceptable condition to the Community Loaner Closet, contact Auville at (540) 879-9249.
Woodmen of the World was founded in 1890 as a fraternal benefit organization. Today, Woodmen of the World offers insurance, annuities, mutual funds*, and 529 college savings plans*. Approximately 800,000 Woodmen of the World members across the country share a commitment to family, community and country.