A Caring Closet Provides Free Medical Equipment to Clark County Residents, Easing Healthcare Costs
A Caring Closet in Clark County, Washington, is significantly alleviating financial burdens for caregivers and patients by providing durable medical equipment free of charge. The organization distributes a wide range of items, including walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, and hospital beds, which are often expensive and difficult to obtain through insurance. Co-founded by Sara Scheetz and Jodie Zelazny, who observed delays in patients receiving necessary equipment and medical facilities discarding usable items, A Caring Closet has grown from garage storage to a Vancouver warehouse. The service is entirely free, operating three days a week and on the first Saturday of each month, assisting approximately 240 people on a typical Tuesday and handling over $2 million worth of used equipment annually. The organization relies heavily on its more than 50 volunteers, many of whom have personal experience with caregiving or medical needs. 
