Convalescent Aid Society to Benefit From 'Make a Difference Day'

Convalescent Aid Society will be the beneficiary of a donation drive spearheaded by the Monrovia Providers Group which will culminate on October 25, 2008 during the "Make a Difference Day." Starting October people from the area have been looking through their homes and churches to find recyclable medical equipment like wheelchairs, bedpans, walkers, etc. In these difficult economic times, the CAS serves the most desperate in the community who cannot afford to buy medical equipment. The doors of this unique non-profit organization have been open since 1923 and served soldiers from World War 1.

Monrovia, CA (PRWEB) October 18, 2008 -- Convalescent Aid Society (CAS) will be the beneficiary of the efforts of Monrovia Providers Group, as they collect used medical equipment on October 25, "Make a Difference Day."

"Make A Difference Day" is an annual, nationwide event, sponsored by USA Today magazine. Held every year on the fourth Saturday of October, this year's event marks the 18th anniversary of "Make A Difference Day." Its purpose is to encourage people across the country to volunteer to do something that will help someone else. In 2007, more than three million people participated, doing everything from cleaning up parks to helping families of wounded soldiers. Each year, 10 participants are honored with gifts from $10,000 to $100,000 for charities, provided by Newman's Own, the company founded by the late actor Paul Newman.

Pattie Tellez, director of the Volunteer Center of the San Gabriel Valley, said the Center participates in Make A Difference Day every year. "This year, we encouraged the Monrovia Provider's Group to participate and adopted collecting used medical equipment for Convalescent Aid Society as our project," Tellez said.

Convalescent Aid Society, located at 3255 East Foothill Boulevard in Pasadena, has been providing medical equipment, free of cost, to residents of the San Gabriel Valley since 1923. Over the past few years, CAS has grown from serving 2,500 clients a year to serving close to 10,000 clients.

The Monrovia Providers Group consists of community agencies dedicated to assisting senior citizens, so helping CAS was a natural extension of their mission. All kinds of used medical equipment--canes, crutches, safety bars, commodes, wheelchairs and hospital beds--are welcome in the collection drive. The Monrovia Providers Group has arranged for several drop-off sites for the items collected.

Those with medical equipment to donate can drop the items off at the Monrovia Community Center between October 20 and October 25. For large items--such as hospital beds--donors can call the Convalescent Aid Society at 626-793-1696 to arrange for a pickup.

On October 25, the actual date of Make a Difference Day, people can bring their medical equipment donations to Recreation Park, 606 Shamrock Ave, Monrovia, between 9 a.m. and noon.

Because of the great increase in the number of people served, CAS needs more equipment than ever. The organization especially needs hospital beds and lightweight wheelchairs.

There is no income requirement for borrowing medical equipment. Clients need only show that they are residents of the San Gabriel Valley. By providing the free medical equipment for those convalescing at home, CAS is making a difference in people's lives every day.

http://www.cas1.org

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