The Lions Club has always been an organization that helps others, but the Orwigsburg Lions Club goes above and beyond with their Hospital Equipment Loan Program (H.E.L.P.). The program loans gently used medical equipment to residents who, for one reason or another, need it.
Although insurance covers many of these items, it takes time, doctor’s prescriptions and sometimes an outlay of money to get new equipment. H.E.L.P. gets it to you fast. Whether a person needs the equipment for several days or a few months, H.E.L.P. can help.
Larry Dagna, administrator of the program, explained the Lions began the program in the garage of one of its members back in 1998 with a few pieces of equipment donated by locals who no longer had need for it. Over the years, the program has outgrown one, two and three garages and now has a storage facility to house the over 200 pieces of medical equipment.
A variety of hospital beds, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs and canes line their building in Orwigsburg, along with portable toilet seats, bed rails, risers and safety rails. The club does not offer invasive equipment, such as respiratory equipment, citing sanitation and contamination issues.
Dagna, who has been a Lion since 1998, took over the program a few years later and took it to the next level.
“When I began, no one knew this program existed,” Dagna said, “not even some of the members.”
Now, Dagna finds himself getting weekly phone calls from people donating equipment and from those needing it. Most of the calls come from the Orwigsburg area, but Dagna is open to assisting those within a reasonable distance from the borough.
“If you need it and we have it, we’ll get it to you,” Dagna said, adding that pickup is encouraged. With hospital beds or more complicated equipment, Dagna will come to the residence to make sure equipment is properly set up and functioning.
Dagna said not all Lions Clubs have a program like H.E.L.P.
“As far as I know, we are the only one in the area,” Dagna said.
Knights of the blind
The Lions Club International numbers 1.4 million men and women. Today the Lions Club is in more than 200 countries and is said to be the largest service organization in the world. It was begun in 1917 in Chicago by businessman Melvin Jones in response to social problems created by World War I.
In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the international convention challenging the Lions to become “Knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” Thus began their mission to help those who are sight impaired. One can find Lions Club Eyeglass collection boxes at hundreds of sights throughout the country.
Locally, the Lions Club holds numerous fundraisers throughout the year. Their biggest fundraiser is the annual chicken barbecue on Memorial Day. You’ll also find them manning food booths at various events in Orwigsburg.
With approximately 70 members in the local chapter, the Lions have been busy. In addition to H.E.L.P., they have helped build local athletic fields, stock the food pantry, sponsor the Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Parade and support the Festival of Lights. They are also active in building and cleaning up local parks and playgrounds.
To donate or pick up equipment, contact Larry Dagna at 570-617-6149. The Orwigsburg Lions Club is also on Facebook.
