The Share program is a big success in Vermilion Parish, helping as many as 40 people in one month.

The program began on September 11, 2009, receiving used medical equipment and distributing it to those in need. The program was started by Susan Vincent with support from her family and friends. She was not sure how the response would be in the beginning, but here is Share six months later and, amazingly, really busy.

Many people have made Share a success through volunteering their time and, for that, Share is thankful. Share is simple: just make a phone call to 337-918-6330 and leave a message asking for medical equipment. Someone will return the call the following day. The procedure is the same if you want to donate equipment.

There was one problem Share was facing when the program first started. Share had no storage space of its own and they accept no money so they could not do a fund raiser to purchase one. Thanks to Larry Campisi of Abbeville for storing the donated equipment until the share program received its own storage capabilities. Recently, Share received a call from Randall and Theresa Bourgeois of Kaplan offering a large storage unit for the group to use at no charge. This was the blessing Share needed to continue to grow. Thanks to the Bourgeois, Share can hold equipment for the needy in Vermilion Parish.

By Pamela Hernandez

My sister Susan Vincent is a single mother of four boys with two still living at home.

She always had a giving heart and one day was faced with the issue of finding a bath chair for my niece, who is disabled. She located a used one and thought that many other people in Vermilion Parish might be in the same need as she was.

That is how Share started -- with someone wanting to help those in need of equipment and had no other way of getting it. Susan started collecting used hospital beds, bedside commodes, walkers, wheelchairs and other such equipment.

With the help of family, friends and social web sites she got the word out that she had the equipment to give to anyone that needed it. Family and friends started volunteering to clean and distribute the equipment.

An article was published in the Abbeville Memorial when the Share program begun with her contact information and that prompted a great response from the community.

Share did have a problem with the need for storage space for all the equipment being donated. Susan made the decision when she started this that she wouldn’t take cash donations and since she had limited income she couldn’t afford a storage building to store the equipment.

Susan contacted Larry Campisi, who she knew personally and he was able to lend a storage space till she could find storage of her own. Recently, she received a call from Randall and Thersa Bougeois giving her the use of a large building that he had recently purchased in Kaplan. “The building is available as long as Share needs it”, said Bougeois.

Susan wants to thank the Bougeois, family, friends and  Vermilion Parish for the support that has made the Share program such a success. If you have used medical equipment that you would like to donate or need medical equipment then you can contact Susan at 918-6330 or Pam at 523-1778.