Join the Rotary Club of North Atlanta and DeKalb Rotarians on Saturday, August 6 in our annual FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults and Children) equipment drive. With your help in years past, this project has collected more than $1,000,000 worth of durable medical equipment from local residents and businesses in the metro Atlanta area; that equipment is then refurbished and redistributed to those in need.

FODAC targets items that are in high demand from their clients, adult and pediatric. FODAC refurbishes all equipment and then donates it with little or no cost to prequalified clients. These items that we collect include: medical supplies, bathroom equipment, grab bars, children’s adaptive equipment, and other assistive technology. FODAC accept gently used manual and electric wheelchairs (including footrests), scooters, standers, strollers, corner chairs, gait trainers, shower supports, toilet supports, therapy aides, specialized mattresses (no regular mattresses), canes, crutches, rollators, bathing aids, braces, air casts walkers, hoyer lifts, hospital beds and many other items.

On Saturday, August 6 at 8:30 am, we will meet at the back patio of the 57th Restaurant, located next to PDK Airport on Clairmont Road in Chamblee. RC of North Atlanta will provide a kickoff breakfast and drinks for the volunteers and give everyone a few minutes to socialize before heading out to pick up equipment about 9 or 9:30 (everyone is usually done between 1 and 2 pm).

North Atlanta would love to have anyone that is interested in volunteering join in the fun. This is a good hands on project and thus a good project to bring prospective members. I have attached a volunteer questionnaire sheet that asks some questions about the physical abilities of the volunteers and the vehicles/trailers that they will be bringing. Having this info beforehand allows North Atlanta to schedule the equipment pickups by groups and is vital to making sure we get the right people and vehicles to go get the equipment. Since the project collects power wheelchairs, adjustable beds, body hoists, walkers, crutches, etc. and so any volunteers who are strong and/or have large trucks and/or trailers will be very much welcomed. Even if you cannot physically help (or provide a vehicle), all are welcome to come for breakfast, ride along with the teams and/or help record and transfer equipment from the team trucks to the FODAC trucks at the 57th.

To assist in planning and scheduling the routes, North Atlanta does need all volunteers to download and complete the attached questionnaire and return it to Ralph Sims, the project coordinator, at ralphdsims@gmail.com.