KENNEBUNK — Purchasing medical equipment for those who need it can be expensive and those who want to get rid of it often don’t know what to do with it.

A new service to begin soon will bring the two groups together. A medical equipment loan closet, a free service to Kennebunk residents, will be opening sometime next month.

“We receive a lot of calls from providers as well as residents looking for (medical) equipment,” General Assistance Administrator Karen Winton told the Board of Selectmen on Aug. 22.

So volunteers with the Committee on Aging decided to do something about it.

The group has partnered with Aging Excellence, which provides services to help seniors age at home, it is working with assisted living facilities Atria and Huntington Commons, and other organizations. Some of the groups will provide those who need equipment and some will help supply the inventory.

According to the website kennebunkmaine.us/loancloset, some of the items that will be available include: wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, commodes, shower chairs and transport chairs.

“The volunteers are mightily excited and driven and we’re just making sure safeguards are in place and procedures are in place,” said Winton.

The Committee on Aging is in the process of building the inventory before opening to the public, she said. “They’ll be partnering with our fire and rescue department as far as training goes.”

To spread the word, committee volunteers are attending town events, handing out flyers and business cards, making connections with various groups and will be sending out a press release.

Winton said that the medical equipment loan closet is not just for the elderly, it’s for all ages and all sizes.

She said there will be no store front for the loan closet. Instead, people will have to call to make an appointment to either receive or donate equipment.

Town Manager Michael Pardue said those who receive free medical equipment from the town will be required to sign a release form that will limit the town’s liability.

“Blood born pathogens are a real issue” with medical equipment, he said. “We’re partnering with our Fire Department colleagues for training for volunteers that will be passing out and handling this equipment … making sure it’s properly cleaned.”

For more information about the Kennebunk Medical Equipment Loan Closet, visit the website kennebunkmaine.us/loancloset. To donate equipment, or ask about equipment once the loan closet is open for business, call 251-3097.

— Associate Editor  Dina Mendros can be reached at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@journaltribune.com.