MUSCATINE, Iowa — Marcia Biklen of Muscatine isn’t letting a broken leg slow her down.

And thanks to a new lending program, the injury isn’t as costly as it may have been.

Since injuring her leg in June, Biklen, 66, has borrowed a wheelchair, walker and cane from the Durable Medical Equipment Lending Closet, a local program sponsored by Senior Resources and Trinity Episcopal Church.

The program allows people to borrow, for free,  medical equipment such as bath benches, canes,  commodes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs.

“I came home from the hospital with crutches, and it wasn’t enough,” said Biklen, who has since graduated to a cane.

This summer, Biklen’s 94-year-old mother came to visit and Biklen borrowed a wheelchair from the closet for a short time.

The Rev. Cathi Bencken of Trinity Episcopal Church  said Biklen is just one example of the many people who come to the lending closet for various reasons.

And even though the closet is located at Senior Resources, the program is not limited to seniors. Youth with sports-related and other injuries can borrow the equipment as well as adults and children of any age.

Barb Krall, executive director of Senior Resources in Muscatine, said her agency has loaned out medical equipment to area residents for many years, but the program was formalized in September when it joined forces with Trinity Episcopal Church.

Bencken said she heard of another church in Cedar Rapids that had a successful lending closet and her church’s Jubilee committee thought it would be a good service for the community.

The Jubilee committee approached Senior Resources about becoming partners and offered to  provide a 24-hour service line.

There is no time limit on how long the equipment can be borrowed, but Bencken said consumers must sign it out and agree to bring it back.

Bencken said the lending closet accepts donations of good, used medical equipment.

“It’s a good way to share what you have,” said Bencken, who added that the donations are tax-deductible.

Donations can be dropped off at Senior Resources or Trinity Episcopal Church and pickup can be arranged by calling the church, agency or the 24-hour service line.

Details

What: The Durable Medical Equipment Lending Closet

Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday

Cost: Free

Where: Senior Resources Inc., 1808 Mulberry Ave.

Who: Anyone who needs to borrow medical equipment including bath benches, canes, commodes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs

To borrow or donate equipment: 563-506-3631. (This number can be reached at any time.)

Donations for the Durable Medical Equipment Lending Closet can be dropped off at Senior Resources 1808 Mulberry Ave. or Trinity Episcopal Church, 211 Walnut St.

For more information: Call Senior Resources at 563-263-7292, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, or Trinity Episcopal Church at 563-263-2177, 8 a.m.-noon Tuesday-Friday