Lori Austin awoke early on a frigid mid-December morning and drove to Self Storage of Lancaster, which is adjacent to Leisure Lanes.

The purpose of her trip was both selfless and significant.

Austin, the director of the Millersville Lions Club's medical equipment den, provided a man with the walker and crutches he will require following an upcoming knee replacement operation.

"There's a real need for medical equipment in the county because people can't afford things or they have to wait for insurance to go through," Austin said. "Just like me helping that gentleman (on Dec. 11) - he has surgery coming up, and he may not get approved for the equipment that he needs until after his surgery. This is one thing that we can unburden people with before their surgery."

The Millersville Lions Club supplies the equipment at no charge to anyone who asks regardless of their location and only requests that the items be returned once the borrower is finished with them.

"I love it," Austin said. "It's my favorite service project. It's satisfying to help people at a time when they're at their lowest."

The Lions Club loans walkers, bedside commodes, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, transport chairs, knee braces, hearing aids and bedside tables. It even has a dialysis chair. Donations of those items are greatly appreciated. "I always asked that things are in in great to new condition, and things must be clean or they will be turned away," said Austin.

She noted that it's a good way for people to get rid of unneeded equipment while helping others. "We also take a lot of donations, and that is a relief to a lot of people, because they have spouses or family members that pass away, and they just want to get rid of the stuff," Austin said. "I started getting involved with this when I was a caretaker for my dad, and we needed equipment, and I saw a place where we could bring his things that he no longer needs because he passed away, and it's nice to see people using that stuff."

The Millersville Lions Club's service project began when they inherited a storage unit containing medical supplies from the Manor Ridge Lions Club. The community's response has been heartwarming. "Their faces light up when they find a walker that's just right or they get a wheelchair that's just right," Austin said. "They're just so relieved and so happy. People have given me monetary donations when they bring stuff back because they're so happy that we were able to help them."

Anyone who needs medical equipment or would like to donate can call 717-201-3069 or 717-725-3511 or email mlcmedicalden@gmail.com.