Lloyd Hanna and his wife started the Medical Loan Closet in their garage several years ago.
The idea was simple, gather medical items to be loaned to people who don’t have health insurance and can’t afford them. Today, they have a warehouse in east Wichita full of items you can rent for just a small fee.
The shelves at the Medical Loan Closet are pretty full. You’ll find things like bandages, braces, canes crutches, wheel chairs, beds and much more. Items donated by individuals and medical providers to the charity. Lloyd Hanna got the idea for the medical loan closet from a news story.
“Probably, maybe six years ago, maybe a snippet for about a minute, said good things are coming to this community,” said Hanna.
That place Hendersonville, North Carolina, where medical supplies were loaned to people struggling financially. Lloyd wanted to do the same in Kansas. It started in his garage, moved to a school, and now a warehouse on East Harry Street.
“Now, we have pretty much filled the building up. Plus, we have four containers on the westside also full. So, we’re going to have to start bringing those in,” said Hanna.
The Medical Loan Closet works like this, just pay a small loan fee and you can take the item home. You’re just asked to bring the equipment back when you’re done with it, so, it can be loaned out to others.
“We will probably do about 7,000 loans and that will be in this community. We also have one in Winfield, we have another in Garden City, Dodge City,” said Hanna.
But, there are times when Loyd says it is okay to keep the item.
“Then, she said I don’t know when we’re going to give it back. I don’t know when my mother is going to die. So, we both stood there and cried. I said don’t worry about it,” said Hanna.
Lloyd had polio as a child and was helped by the March of Dimes. That was another reason why he wanted to start the Medical Loan Closet to help pay it forward.
“It’s very humbling, it’s very humbling,” said Hanna.
Lloyd turns 80 in two years, that’s when he plans on turning over the Medical Loan Closet to someone else. This Hometown Hero hopes that person will get the same joy he’s experienced over the past six years.
“So, it’s very humbling very, very humbling. a lot of tears. Can I give you a hug?” said Hanna.
Loyd says his daughter plans on starting a Medical Loan Closet in Topeka. Lloyd also told KSN News 3 he’d like to see the city and county donate money to his cause, to help those who don’t have insurance get the items they need.
The Medical Loan Closet can always use donations and volunteers to work in their warehouse to.
If you would like to nominate a Hometown Hero send it to reportit@ksn.com.
