Well worn

Treasure-hunting is not just about finding diamonds in dark caves. My childhood taught me incredible finds could be discovered at the end of a driveway, disguised as junk ready for the dump. Family folklore has it that my dad picked up our family’s longstanding coffee table at the side of the road and biked home with it tucked under his arm. Today, my siblings can all point to different items in our own homes that were destined for the dump but were rescued and put back to work.

Costly challenges

That kind of ingenuity means even more to me now, as a parent of two children who depend on specific equipment for daily living. Government funding does not cover the full cost of pieces such as wheelchairs, shower beds, walkers and other mobility aids. Many individuals impacted by disability do not have the luxury of appealing to insurance and look to secondhand options such as thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace. Yet even in those spaces, prices can be inflated.

In the Niagara region, we are so grateful for a place called For the Needy Not the Greedy. Yes – that’s really the name. I remember my first visit clearly. Stepping inside the large warehouse, I was struck by the sight – and the smell – of so much well-used equipment waiting for a second life. Walkers, wheelchairs, bikes, shower chairs – almost every kind of mobility device you could imagine filled the space. At the back, a team of volunteers worked steadily, making small repairs and adjustments.

Affordable alternative

One of the lead organizers greeted me with a warm smile, his prosthetic leg immediately signaling his own connection to the world of disability. As we talked, he shared his frustration with how expensive and complicated it was for people to access essential equipment through official channels. For the Needy Not the Greedy was his answer: a place where gently used equipment could be made available at low cost for adults, and through a free-to-borrow program for children.

Thanks to this initiative, over the years, we have used different items that have helped our girls participate at school, shower safely at home, and enjoy the outdoors. The loaner program made it easy to return and swap out equipment to meet their changing needs. And the organization has grown too – now supporting families both locally and abroad. This summer, they proudly shipped their 14th container of equipment all the way to Ukraine.

Back in June, we were able to pick up a second bath seat, so both Rachel and Janneke could access the local beach and wading pool on their terms. The seats allowed them to sit just off the ground but low enough to put their hands and feet in the water. Recently, we took advantage of the beautiful cooler temperatures and visited the local beach again. The girls were able to sit at the water’s edge and watch their nurses fly the kite. And that moment was its own kind of treasure.