Tucked into Joplin's Seventh Street is one of Missouri's biggest Medical Loan Closets. The local non-profit, Joplin Medical Loan Closet allows people to drop off and pick up medical equipment at no cost. Donations vary from wheelchairs, sleep apnea machine masks and IV equipment.
The only requirement is a form describing the donation. The reasons for donating vary, from nursing homes donating extra supplies to relatives donating their late relative's old equipment.
The idea for this type of operation originated in October 2020. Nicole Watson was a nurse treating patients with feeding tubes. The patients' insurance often didn't cover the cost of their continuing care, and she wondered how she could help them.
One of her co-workers suggested she start a Medical Loan Closet like those in Wichita, Kansas.
After asking social workers and hospital managers, Watson realized there was a massive need in the Joplin area. Watson said she 'sat' on the idea until there were signs, she could not ignore.
"I was talking about it one day, and I went to church that night, and I worshiped; Pastor said "that we must do something so big that we do not think we can do it, "she said. "And I was like, Ok, fine," she said.
She started accepting donations at Grace Baptist Church, but because of the increasing need, that quickly became too crowded. Watson later enlisted the help of her mother, Terri Heeter who started picking up and dropping off donations.
They moved into their current space in October of last year. The new building has about three rooms filled with wheelchairs, bedpans, beds, and various medical supplies. The first room has a waiting area and a check-in desk.
Terri is now the manager of the loan closet and is grateful for this new space.
"My volunteers and I are all so happy because we were not happy at the other place because it was just so crowded," Heeter said.
Heeter said the closet is busy year-round, and donations fluctuate constantly. They now have about 100 people donating every month. There is also about a 70% return rate, which Heeter says helps keep necessary items 'in stock.'
She said the best part about the job is the daily interactions with people needing supplies.
"Sometimes people come in and they don't know what they want. They don't know what they need, but we'll be talking to him about the day-to-day and stuff, and we'll come up with a solution usually or say, 'Hey, I have something that might help you with that.'" Heeter said.
As for Watson, she describes the donation process as 'two-fold' - meaning it is a blessing for everyone.
"There are people who need things that they can't get or don't qualify for, and then there are people who had someone who doesn't need it, or someone passes away, and they don't know what to do with this stuff," Watson said.
Now, five years after its founding, Watson is still the director of the Joplin Medical Loan Closet on top of her full-time job. She sees the need to hire someone to find opportunities for funding and move the closet past service based on donations.
This Saturday's Joplin Interfaith Coalition's annual Bake Sale will benefit the Joplin Medical Loan Closet. The Bake Sale's donations will cover the building's operating costs, rent, and utilities. The event will be at the Islamic Society of Joplin, featuring pastries and foods from diverse cultures and religions.
