A charity supermarket established by a volunteer service center in China’s eastern-coastal Jiangsu Province recently opened, providing free assistive rehabilitation devices.
According to Reed’s Home’s official WeChat account on November 5, the elderly, the sick and the disabled can rent free and recyclable assistive devices which were donated by other families, receiving delivery service if they need it.
At the launching ceremony of the project of the charity supermarket, Cao Shengjia, chairman of Reed’s Home Volunteer Service, first introduced the original intention of the project. Many citizens have some idle rehabilitation equipment in their homes, such as wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, functional nursing beds, and oxygen generators, which they are reluctant to throw away. However, there are some people having difficulty moving because of disabilities, old age, accidents, or illness. Though with the desire of resuming normal life, they can’t afford or rent rehabilitation equipment. The charity supermarket can help both sides.
Cao shared the management system of the supermarket and the related processes of donation, borrowing, and recycling of the equipment. He said people in need could complete the registration and borrowing procedures at the service points of the supermarket with their ID cards (or apply through WeChat) and return it after use. Later, the devices would be cleaned, repaired, disinfected, and recycled for other people in need, he added.
“In order to ensure efficient recycling and orderly borrowing, Reed’s Home will save records of donation, use, and recycling, which will be made public on a regular basis. Reed’s Home will also conduct regular return visits to avoid resale or subletting of the equipment, so as to ensure the equipment can be recycled in time and best used, ”said Chairman Cao.
During the ceremony, Huang Tiancheng, chairman of the Zhenjiang Association of Persons with Physical Disability, said, “Wheelchairs and crutches are consumables that need to be replaced in one or two years, so the long-time users bear the heavy financial burden. The opening of the market is good news for the disabled, as it can relieve the economic pressure on disabled people and their families. Thanks to the selfless dedication of caring people and the professional service of Reed’s Home.”
- Translated by Stephen Huang
