'Sick Room Closet'

By Millie Schreiber and Frank Aukofer

Special to Barcroft News

 

Since its founding in 1955, the Lake Barcroft Woman's Club has maintained a collection of medical equipment, including wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and toilet aids.

              The "Sick Room Closet" provides the items temporarily, free of charge, to community residents who request them. The only requirement is that the borrowed item be returned promptly when it is no longer needed so that it can be made available to others.

              Equipment includes four wheelchairs, five walkers, five bedside commodes, five sets of crutches and two canes. In the last year, items have been loaned out 37 times.

              Most of the equipment has been donated to the Woman's Club by residents as they moved away from the area or recovered from illnesses or accidents. Some of it has been purchased through the generous bequest of a former Lake Barcroft resident.

              Since 1995, Millie Schreiber of Mansfield Road has provided a home for and managed the collection. She can be reached at 703-379-4499.