It’s hard to believe it has only been several months since we officially launched West Side Second Chance Assist, but they’ve been incredibly productive months. On September 4th, we had the opportunity to give a presentation on Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for the San Francisco Village, a nonprofit that supports seniors living independently in San Francisco. We educated the attendees on the benefits of DME, commonly used items, and those covered by Medicare. We also demonstrated how to use the various pieces of equipment we brought along.
The San Francisco Village members were engaged and attentive throughout the presentation, and we were able to give away DME items on the spot, which brought a lot of joy to the group. Some members attended in search of equipment, while others came to donate items they no longer needed. We connected with several seniors who generously offered items, including some hospital beds. By the end of September, we found new homes for three donated hospital beds, ensuring they went to people in the community who truly needed them.
We have also distributed walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, shower chairs, rollators, and other smaller items to members of the West Side community.
On September 29th, we hosted another DME giveaway and bake sale, and had the incredible honor of sharing our organization’s mission with Mayor London Breed. It was such a privilege to speak with her about the work we’re doing, and we look forward to presenting to other organizations in the coming months.
Here are some photos from our SF Village presentation and our second DME giveaway and bake sale.
The idea of starting a non-profit to match people who need durable medical equipment (DME) with those who want to donate it emerged in 2022. There were many logistical challenges to address, such as determining whom we would serve, how we would spread the word, and other aspects, as we have no experience in the realm of non-profits. As a highly experienced Occupational Therapist working with San Francisco residents for over 20 years, I found myself lacking in technical skills. The idea of creating a website and managing social media was daunting, so the idea remained as an idea.
We have friends whom we met while my kids were in preschool, and we still get together a few times a year to catch up. At one of these gatherings, I mentioned the idea of matching people who need DME with those who have DME to donate. As an Occupational Therapist who works with patients in their home settings, I see many who need DME, yet much of it is not covered by their insurance. I often spend hours visiting ReCARES in the Mission to obtain recycled DME for my patients. Unfortunately, ReCARES is only open on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and its location near Mission High School is inconvenient for those on the West Side.
On my usual nightly walks, I frequently see people in my neighborhood throwing out DME because they don’t know what else to do with it, or I'll notice posts on Facebook where people are giving away DME. This inspired the genesis of West Side Second Chance Assist. It's a win-win for those who need DME and those who want to dispose of it—and it also keeps DME out of landfills. We officially launched in June 2024, but I have been working to save DME from landfills and provide it to my patients in need for years. Now, I have help from my young co-founders, who are not intimidated by the technological aspects. They are excited about the opportunity to serve their community and give DME a second chance to assist the West Side community of San Francisco.
Here are some photos from our first bake sale fundraiser and DME giveaway. We are so excited to create more opportunities to educate the community about DME and provide for people in need!
