About Us

Cover of Lending Hands 2022 Annual Report.
Click to view report

Lending Hands is an all-volunteer, Michigan, nonprofit social service organization located in Portage, Michigan. We lend home durable medical equipment, for free for seven months, to residents of the Southwest Michigan counties of Allegan, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties and beyond. Lending Hands of Michigan is a 501-c-3 tax-exempt organization.

Since our start in 2005 Lending Hands has served over 40,000 clients with over 80,000 pieces of medical equipment. We have saved our clients, the health care system and various entitlement programs over $12 Million in out-of-pocket expenses. Volunteers have contributed over 70,000 hours of service. In 2018, we saved Kalamazoo County residents over $700,000.

Lending Hands is an all-volunteer, Michigan, nonprofit social service organization located in Portage, Michigan. We lend home durable medical equipment, for free for seven months, to residents of the Southwest Michigan counties of Allegan, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties and beyond. Lending Hands of Michigan is a 501-c-3 tax-exempt organization.

Since our start in 2005 Lending Hands has served over 40,000 clients with over 80,000 pieces of medical equipment. We have saved our clients, the health care system and various entitlement programs over $12 Million in out-of-pocket expenses. Volunteers have contributed over 70,000 hours of service. In 2018, we saved Kalamazoo County residents over $700,000.

Cover of Lending Hands 2022 Annual Report.
Click to view report

Our Mission

To serve and support people during health transitions with assistive devices without barriers to access.

Our Values

  • Provide quality service to those in need
  • Give thanks and goodwill to our donors
  • Provide care, recognition and support to our volunteers
  • Build lasting relationships with our communities

Board of Directors

Tracey Hatch

Chairperson

Kelly Quardokus

Vice Chair

Dan Story, R.N.

Treasurer

Jay Asher

Secretary

Dale Hein

Director

Demetra Lafayette

Director

Helen Palleschi

Director

Art Roberts

Director

Judy Sivak

Director

Tim Stowers

Director

Julie VanderNoot

Director

Anne Zemlick, R.N.

Director

Lucinda M. Stinson, MPA

Chief Executive Officer

2018-2021 Opportunity

In mid-2018, a generous challenge pledge/gift of $25,000 was awarded to Lending Hands of Michigan, Inc. in the form of a planned endowment to be housed at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, named the John Hilliard Endowment Fund for Lending Hands of Michigan, Inc. The donor agreed to provide a $1 for $1 match up to $25,000 of donations to the John Hilliard Endowment Fund as long as the gifts occur between now and June 30, 2021. It was the hope of a small, volunteer committee, who agreed to raise the matching funds, that the endowment donations would far exceed the needed $25,000 match as this endowment will help to insure a strong future for Lending Hands of Michigan, Inc.  

After one year of effort, we are pleased to report that just over $100,000 has been pledged/gifted to the Kalamazoo Community Foundation for the John Hilliard Endowment Fund. Then in October 2019, John and Rosemary Brown awarded Lending Hands with another $100,000 challenge gift to grow the endowment. The committee has begun efforts to secure the matching $100,000 in funds ($-for-$ match) to help provide a secure future for this important non-profit organization in Southwest Michigan.

Endowment Committee Members

John Hopkins

Chairperson

Tracey Hatch

Lending Hands Board Chair

Art Roberts

Lending Hands Board

Cindy Buist

Lending Hands Volunteer

Lucinda M. Stinson

Lending Hands CEO