The M.E.L. Society enhances the life of West Central Albertans by providing a much needed medical/health equipment lending service that is no longer offered in our area by Alberta Health Services. By doing this, The M.E.L. Society promotes independence, mobility, quality of life, safety, equal access to equipment supports, and helps to reduce isolation for our clients. Society also maintains hospital beds, complete cryo-therapy units, and other unique items not found at other lenders in the province. We do this to address multiple needs, meet the unique needs of our region and as a way to enhance our income recovery strategy while offering a comprehensive volunteer based equipment lending program in our region. The Society does not receive annual government funding nor receives financial or in-kind support from Alberta Health Services. We have supported people from over 20 communities in 3 provinces and one territory. To date we have served more than ~1200 people and lent out more than 2608 pieces since our opening in 2016. We have successfully supported our regions equipment needs while promoting volunteerism, advocating for equal funding for lending charities at the provincial level, and working to support environmentalism. Our 2019 statistical analysis showed that The M.E.L. Society largely serves a senior-female vulnerable/disadvantaged and at-risk clientele (~73.86% of our clients) who "are on very low incomes, who the majority of suffer from a form of disability or chronic illness and may be considered geographically isolated with few achieving higher education and struggle with mobility." Therefore, The M.E.L. Society continues to fill a service gap that hundreds of said individuals would most likely suffer significantly without a medical equipment lending service, who would lack the know-how to obtain a similar service elsewhere, who would struggle with increased travel costs, and who would continue to experience a lower quality of life should The M.E.L. Society's equipment lending program close. We continue to positively impact people's safety and sense of isolation, lessen the burden on our environment both locally and regionally, consistently meet peoples expectations and satisfy our clients equipment needs. Additionally, we have achieved ~17% self-sustainability furthering our goal of reducing reliance on grants and donations to cover core costs, reducing the need for client-based donations which helps keep money in peoples pockets, especially low-income individuals. Donate via Paypal, CanadaHelps or Benevity:
https://www.paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3717715
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-medical-equipment-lending-society-of-west-central-alberta/
https://mygoodness.benevity.org/community/cause/124-713482297RR0001
