by Leslee Sanberg, Diocesan Jubilee Officer

Grace Church, Cedar Rapids, became a Jubilee Ministry Center in November, 2007.  Designated by the Executive Council and recognized by the Presiding Bishop, Grace joined 6 other Jubilee Ministry Churches in Iowa who are linked with hundreds of others in the Episcopal Church.

Jubilee gets its mission from both Old and New Testaments. From Micah we learn what the Lord requires of us: “to do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  (Micah 6:8) From Matthew we remember the familiar “for I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25: 31-40)

At Grace Church we could continue with “I was disabled and you gave me a wheelchair, or a walker, or a cane.” That’s because Grace Church is a Medical Lending Closet for the Cedar Rapids area’s people who are otherwise unable to afford to purchase badly needed equipment for themselves.  On a fall day this past October I made a visit to Grace. Linda Griffin, the church secretary and the lending closet’s manager, took me in to the basement and there I saw rooms full of equipment including toilet risers, bath chairs, bath benches, medical beds, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, commodes, C-Pap machines.

The Rev. Paul Fuessel is the rector at Grace and has a background as a medical social worker.  He said that the Grace Medical Lending closet serves people not only in Cedar Rapids and Linn County but also University Hospitals in Iowa City.  Grace’s motto is “If you need it and we have it, you’ve got it.” The message travels by word of mouth and referrals to the Medical Lending Closet come from hospitals, physical therapists, social workers and friends and neighbors.  The equipment is given to Grace by families who no longer need it.  Likewise, if Grace can’t use a particular piece of equipment, it is given to a free medical clinic in Cedar Rapids. Once, a specialized wheelchair was even sent to South America. 

New equipment is purchased from time to time. Dressing sticks, sock aids and grabbers are all in high demand. Grace recently received a grant from Qwest Communications for over $7,000.00. They were also recipients of a $500.00 grant from national Jubilee office.

Jim  Ward, a member of Grace, does the repair , organizing, pick up and delivery of equipment. When Grace receives equipment that cannot be repaired it goes to recycling and the money received from that goes back into their fund to purchase new equipment.  So people are able to give equipment, others are able to receive it. Grace contributes to being green through its recycling efforts…….and the circle of Jubilee continues!

Why is Grace Church in the business of lending medical equipment? As Linda Griffin says, "There is a need. It is wonderful seeing people’s faces when they receive the equipment. They are so thankful. It makes you want to do this even more."

For more information on Grace Church’s Medical Lending Closet, contact Linda Griffin at 319-362-1929 (M-W-F) or Linfgriff@yahoo.com