Volunteers renovate medical warehouse for those in need

Kiwanis+volunteers+Dave+Mabry%2C+John+Skillings%2C+Bill+Wortman%2C+Jim+Kehr+and+Douglas+Ingram+stand+inside+the+shed+under+renovation.+

Photo submitted by Kiwanis

Kiwanis volunteers Dave Mabry, John Skillings, Bill Wortman, Jim Kehr and Douglas Ingram stand inside the shed under renovation.

By Xingrui Lu

Last October, seven volunteers from Oxford Kiwanis Club worked over two weekends to renovate a shed behind Oxford Seniors as a warehouse for mobility aids and medical devices. 

Stored in the shed are wheelchairs, portable commodes, shower chairs, canes, crutches, and other items for those who are recovering from injury. All can be loaned to Oxford residents free of charge.

“Many people tell us how wonderful this shed is to help them,” said Oxford Seniors executive director, Stephen Schnabl, “This is not only for people who are old, it’s for anybody in the community who needs to borrow them.”

“We got this shed idea about a year and a half ago,” said Dave Belka, a Kiwanis member, and the project’s leader. The Oxford Community Foundation provided $1,000 for the supplies for Kiwanis to renovate the 12-foot by 14-foot shed behind the Senior Center at 922 Tollgate Drive. 

Volunteers covered the interior walls of the shed with supportive plywood, installed hangers for such items as canes and crutches, configured shelving, and created an updated inventory.