The lending closet

WASILLA — Tina Ervin has taken the remnants of a what many consider a tragic, life-altering event and is now benefitting others by opening Austin's Compassionate Exchange (ACE), a nonprofit durable medical equipment (DME) lending closet.

Austin Ervin is Tina's 9-year-old son who, at the age of 5, became a quadriplegic after suffering critical injuries in an automobile accident. Austin has been wheelchair-bound and breathing with the assistance of a ventilator ever since. Ervin said in addition to a major life readjustment, she recalls the work needed to get her son proper DME.

"The idea came from me fighting constantly to get the medical supplies my son needed. We began collecting used durable medical equipment and medical supplies for the last 3-4 years and found a need in our community to loan this equipment to an individual who did not have insurance or could not afford to purchase the equipment. As the need began to grow, our medical loan closet grew. We’d been doing it out of our garage, now we need to move into a warehouse with shelves, so we can keep up with the inventory. I don't want others to have to do the same thing," Ervin said. “We want people to be safe in their home. I want to make change in our community."

With that, she's been a source many Mat-Su residents have used when in need of everything from a non-motorized wheelchair to shower chairs to walkers and bedside commodes.

Now she's taking things to the next level.

Ervin said she has a shop, her garage and four Connexes stuffed with every piece of DME imaginable, plus countless boxes of related medical supplies. Every so often, larger items such as hospital beds or an electric lift recliner comes in — no related items are off limits. Ervin said she's been accepting donations for about the past three years. The items are cleaned, sanitized and stored.

"We loan the equipment out to anyone for as long as needed," Ervin said. "No charge, only a promise to return it when no longer needed. This way, we can continue to use it for future clients...We have been helping people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, pediatrics, or just people in need."

Up until now, she has been working through word-of-mouth. Now she has plans to "set up shop" properly. Even through the grapevine, Ervin said equipment demand keeps her running.

"With all the cuts in Medicare and Medicaid and people's insurance, people are waiting for months to get equipment they need," Ervin said. "When people need equipment, they need it now. They don't need to fall in the tub or on the ice and end up back in the hospital."

A former worker on the slope, Ervin quit the lucrative position with BP to devote all of her time to care for Austin. With the special needs — equipment, knowledge and housing among others that Austin has, Ervin now serves as a foster parent for similar children. She said Austin, an involved third-grader at Sherrod Elementary in Palmer, remains an inspiration for all who meet him. Now, in addition to trying to find her way back to employment, Ervin is ramping up the pace of getting ACE up and running.

"He's doing great. He always has a smile on his face," Ervin said. "He's never even been back to the hospital since his accident. I have a great team!"

Working with volunteers, Ervin said she can pick up unneeded DME from Eagle River to Willow. With her goal of setting up a brick-and-mortar facility, Ervin said she can use more volunteer help to sift through the large collection of donations, along with organizing and inventorying the items.

She said the typical items are loaned out for 2-4 weeks and up to 2-3 months.

"We will thoroughly discuss this with you to see how we can accommodate you fully. If you need an extension, just give us a call," said Ervin. "All you need to do is contact us and fill out a simple form. My biggest users from our loan closet is Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Wasilla Senior Center and Links — which is the Mat-Su Aging and Disability Resource Center."

As a nonprofit, Ervin said she can also accept tax-deductible donations to help cover the associated costs involved in getting items to where they are needed. So far, several Valley businesses have stepped up to assist getting things off the ground. Included are Northern Industrial Training (NIT) and Jeff Staley of TeaJay's Enterprise — both of Palmer; and Janice Lobaugh of Alaska Premier Real Estate and Dr. August Manelick of Altitude Chiropractic — both of Wasilla.

"It would be great to find sponsor to get needed equipment, the supplies to make the space function successfully, and all the background work that will be done to keep it up and running," Ervin said.

She is getting some volunteer help with locations for dropping off equipment. Ervin said internal medicine specialist Drs. Natalie Beyeler and Manelick have agreed to assist. She also works with Turn A Leaf thrift store in Wasilla and Access Alaska in Anchorage. She has plans in the works to spread those out to include Eagle River to the south and Willow to the north.

"We all work together to help one another. If one of the other loan closets don't have an item, we mention it to the other loan closet," said Ervin.

Ervin said WASI (Wasilla Senior Center) and Procare Home Medical Inc. is partnering with ACE for a May 6 medical equipment and supply drive. Even Austin's school is pitching in. Each class is competing by collecting spare change in large water jugs. That is expected to heat up next week. The winning class, Ervin said, will have some kind of celebration marking bragging rights. All proceeds go to help cover ACE set-up costs.

To find out more about ACE, or to make a financial or equipment donation, or volunteer to help get things up and running, contact Ervin at 232-4848 or visit the ACE Facebook page https://facebook.com/AustinsCompassionExchange/

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com