Evening star., 1947-03-24
Silver Spring Womens Sick Room Loan Closer Has Whatever Is Needed

Eight years ago members of the
Silver Spring Woman's Club put
their heads together to think of
some beneficial project they could
sponsor.
I'VE thought it would be nice to
do some good for the community"
explained Miss Minna Loeschke, a
club member.
Some one recalled hearing of a
kind of lending library of sick-room
needs operated by a Midwestern
woman's club. The Sick Room Loan
Closet of the Silver Spring Woman's
Club evolved from this discussion.
Members Donated Supplies.
THE idea caught on quickly with
club members Miss Loeschke said.
"One woman offered to donate pill
low slips, another offered crutches
she no longer needed. / said that
would donate the closet space so
they made me chairman of the pro-
ject." Miss Loeschke has been chair
man of the loan closet ever since,
and maintains 1t at hex home at
800 Dale drive, Silver Spring.
Only five items were lent from the
closet the first year. Since that time
loans have steadily increased and
now they number in the hundreds
each year.
Sometimes I get calls in the
middle of the night. That only hap
pens in baby cases. though" Miss
Loeschke recalled. She pointed out
that with hospital rooms still hard
to find and home care often q neces-
sity. the supplies are much in de-
mand.
Items in the closet include three
hospital beds, four bed tables, three
wheel chairs, dozen hospital gowns,
II pairs of crutches, thermometers,
rubber bed cushions, pneumonia
jackets. ice bags, a back rest, sheets
and pillow cases--"virtually every
thing needed in a sick room," Miss
Loeschke said.
Closet Has Invalid Walker.
She pointed to pair of long poles
leaning against the wall Of her ga
rage where an overflow of closet
items are kept. That's a pulley.
It helps bed patients to regain
strength by pulling themselves up"
Miss Loeschke believes an invalid
walker she recently purchased with
club funds is the prize item of the
closet. This is used to teach per-
sens who have broken their hips or
who have not been on their feet for
long time how to walk again.
I'VE bought the walker for only
$25. 1t originally cost sos but the
woman who sold it to us had heard
of the loan closet and was willing
to dispose of it to us at that low
price," Miss Loeschke explained.
Although some major items like
the walker have been purchased
with club funds or with money sent
in by grateful people who have made
use of loan closet items, most of the
equipment was donated. A physician
contributed one hospital bed, and
discarded crutches have been given
by those who we're happy to have no
more use for them. 1.- e..
Everything Has Been Returned.
And nothing has ever failed to
come back-even things easily lost
like. thermometers or Sheets" con-
tinued Miss Loeschke. She ad-
mitted a card index of each loaned
item and personal calls to the
patrons have helped maintain this
record.
"Of course, there Is no charge for
we lend out" Miss
Loeschke emphasized. Many per-
sons have shown their appreciation,
however, by contributing money to
the closet fund. Early this week
Miss Loeschke received a $25 check
from a woman who had borrowed a
hospital bed and crutches. A letter
accompanying the check said "a
very large part of the value OF the
closet is in your kind and sympa-
thetic help"
We'll. it does take time Miss
Loescnke admitted. But she finds
the work interesting because it
helps some one"