With the state of Texas facing long-term recovery in the wake of early July’s devastating floods, Tucker-based Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) is mobilizing to provide critical support.
In late July, FODAC, which collects, repairs and distributes necessary medical equipment in Georgia and beyond, loaded a truck with 250 home medical equipment items for delivery to flood-stricken areas through its Texas partners, Project Mend and American Red Cross.
FODAC, according to its website, provides free or reduced-cost home medical equipment such as wheelchairs, mobility aids, power chairs, hospital beds, folding ramps, and oxygen equipment, to help restore independence for those who can’t afford them or have immediate needs that may be delayed or denied through traditional insurance or Medicare/Medicaid.
President and CEO Chris Brand said the organization had the opportunity to help a Texas man with Parkinson’s Disease whose life was saved by a neighbor during the sudden flooding that hit along the Guadelupe River near San Antonio.
The man, Joel, needed a replacement scooter, which FODAC was able to provide.
“Emergency response isn’t just about food and shelter,” Brand said in a release from FODAC about the effort. “When a person loses a wheelchair or walker, they lose their freedom to recover and access their new housing while repairs are underway. We are restoring that — one survivor at a time.”
The operation was bolstered by in-kind support from Amazon in the form of a $5,000 credit, which was used to hard-to-find supplies like bariatric equipment, Brand told Rough Draft.
FODAC also provided more than 100 pallets of home medical equipment to seven states to support the needs of Hurricane Helene survivors.
FODAC’s disaster relief’s arm is just one of many services it provides. The non-profit takes donations of gently used home medical equipment, does needed repairs, and distributes them accordingly. It also assists with vehicle adaptation and computer refurbishing.
“Half of the people in the state of Georgia struggle to get their mobility needs met, and much of that happens in rural areas,” he said.
The organization has a 65,000-square-foot facility in Tucker and a 9,000-square-foot overflow warehouse in Savannah. It repurposes and distributes more than $15 million in medical equipment each year, he said.
Brand, who has been with FODAC for about 30 years, said he loves being able to provide essential equipment immediately for those who may wait for months for insurance approvals or government red tape.
“Just seeing the relief in the people’s eyes is touching and emotional,” he said. “There are a lot of tears in our lobby.”
FODAC is funded through limited state and federal grants, but depends on partnerships and donations to operate its $2.7 million budget. Brand said besides monetary support, there is always a need for volunteers to help in their warehouses.
