SSM Health supporting Fond du Lac Evening Lions medical locker

SSM Health is supporting the Fond du Lac Evening Lions Club’s WestLake Lions Medical Equipment Loan Locker serving the communities of Van Dyne and Fond du Lac through a $5,000 donation.

A joint effort of the Van Dyne Lions Club and the Fond du Lac Evening Lions Club, free loan medical equipment is available to residents of the southern Lake Winnebago area. Area residents in need of a temporary loan of medical equipment can come to the locker and pick up equipment free of charge and return it when they have finished with its use.         

“In the past, there were two large successful medical lockers in Larson and Appleton, and our Lions Club members were willing to travel based on local needs,” according to Tom Wendt, project coordinator. “The travel time was becoming challenging, especially in light of available volunteer Lions members, and our existing donations were overflowing, and storage space was at a premium.”

The medical locker is located at the Van Dyne Lions Club at 700 Lone Elm Road, providing the perfect venue of this dedicated space.

“This building is dedicated to store medical equipment donations, provide an area for cleaning and maintenance of equipment, and is a local pickup/drop off location for the community,” Wendt shares. “This greatly supports emergency medical equipment needs to our local residents and assists residents not able to fund personal equipment costs.”

The dedicated medical equipment loan locker fits within SSM Health’s mission to ensure that all who need vital health care services can easily access those resources, no matter their income.

“Free community medical equipment lockers are vital because they provide accessible, affordable, and sustainable solutions for individuals who need medical equipment, especially those facing financial hardship or temporary needs,” according to Shane Smith, SSM Health Fond du Lac Market president. “These strategies ultimately improving health care access and outcomes. This medical equipment loan locker is truly meeting a real and growing need – how to secure health equipment for oneself, a client or a loved one.”

To learn more, call the WestLake Lions Medical Equipment Loan Locker at 920-517-2724 (Van Dyne) or 920-204-6864 (Fond du Lac), or email westlakemedicallocker@gmail.com. The service is available Tuesdays from 3 to 6 pm and Saturday from 9 am to noon.

In 2024, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac’s community benefit ministry totaled more than $568,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.