OUR STORY
How We Got Started
Founded in 1964 by St. James Episcopal Church, the Medical Loan Closet of Henderson County (MLC) was created to meet a simple but critical need: helping our community access medical equipment for temporary use. Rather than purchasing equipment that might only be needed briefly, MLC provides a way for donated items to be loaned to anyone who needs them.
Our Mission
Mission Statement – The Medical Loan Closet of Henderson County is a charitable faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operated primarily by volunteers that refurbishes donated durable medical equipment (DME). In turn we provide this equipment at low or no cost to our neighbors in Western North Carolina facing recovery from illness, accident, or otherwise in need of this equipment on a short or long-term basis.
Hurricane Helene
In September 2024, Tropical Storm Helene brought devastating flooding to our region. Our building took on more than eight feet of water, and with it, we lost our entire inventory of medical equipment. Despite the destruction, our mission did not pause. We continued distributing equipment from our parking lot whenever possible, determined to meet the urgent needs of our community.
With critical financial support from our community, we rebuilt our space—adding improved storage systems, updated infrastructure, and greater efficiency. By January 2025, just three months after the disaster, we reopened our doors, ready to serve once again.
Our Grand Reopening
Get Involved
Operated primarily by volunteers and a small dedicated staff, MLC relies on the generosity of the community—through donations, volunteerism, and funding—to continue its mission.
For more than 60 years, one simple idea has guided the organization: when neighbors share what they have, everyone is stronger.
Donate
Your donation helps ensure essential medical equipment remains available to anyone in our community who needs it. Financial contributions and equipment donations allow us to maintain, clean, and replace items so they’re ready when neighbors need them most.
Volunteer
Volunteers are the heart of MLC. From preparing and organizing equipment to helping community members find what they need, the time and care our volunteers give makes this service possible.
Support
Support comes in many forms—sharing our mission, partnering with us, sponsoring programs, or helping connect us with others who care about community health. Every bit of support helps keep this resource strong for the people who rely on it.