Goodwill adds service component

EWING, N.J. - Goodwill Home Medical, which has been selling power wheelchairs for two years, now services them. 

Goodwill Home Medical provides a basic check of the wires, battery life and tire treads.

The need for affordable power wheelchairs and services is rising as insurance coverage decreases or changes, says Deb Eckenhoff, vice president.

“The people we service, these are people who are uninsured, who have high deductibles or are underinsured,” she said.

A division of Goodwill Home Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, Goodwill Home Medical has more than 20 retail stores and seven standalone donation centers.

The need for wheelchairs and services is also strong, Eckenhoff says, because users consider them their only form of transportation. That means they're used outside and undergo a lot of wear and tear.

“They come in and look at our selection and nine times out of 10, we have what they need and it's in better shape than what they're using,” Eckenhoff said. “Because of the affordability and pricing, it's worth coming in and paying the money out of pocket.”

When it comes to equipment, donations go to the Ewing, N.J., store, where they are inspected for quality and safety before being sanitized and refurbished. Some brands on the sales floor: Hoveround, Pride Jazzy, Invacare and Golden Technologies.