This week, Quinnipiac will open a groundbreaking new community resource with the launch of a Wheel It Forward durable medical equipment library on its North Haven Campus — what is believed to be the first university-based site of its kind in partnership with Wheel It Forward.

The grand opening will take place on Thursday, April 23, from 3:45 to 6:30 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for 4 p.m. Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event. The public event will include a food truck and guided tours, offering attendees an inside look at how the program works and how to donate, volunteer or borrow equipment.

For many patients recovering from surgery, injury or age-related mobility challenges, a lack of basic medical equipment can delay or prevent a safe return home. This new initiative is designed to fill that gap.

Timed to coincide with National Library Week, the grand opening highlights a new model of care and community collaboration: a “library” where individuals can borrow essential recovery equipment such as wheelchairs, knee scooters, walkers, shower chairs and cold therapy devices — often at no cost and always with accessibility in mind.

Wheel It Forward operates as a nonprofit lending system for durable medical equipment, allowing community members to donate gently used items that are then sanitized, safety-checked and cataloged in an online inventory. Users can browse available equipment, complete a simple waiver and borrow what they need — returning it when they are finished so it can serve someone else.

This marks the fourth Wheel It Forward location in Connecticut and represents a major milestone as the organization expands into a university-community partnership model. The initiative addresses a critical and often immediate need: many patients are unable to return home safely after surgery, injury or illness without proper equipment, which is frequently not covered by insurance.

“Wheel It Forward is actually a library of durable medical equipment where people can donate what they no longer need and others can borrow it when they do,” said Linda Bedard, clinical assistant professor of physical therapy. “If someone can’t afford equipment or doesn’t have insurance, they can still take what they need. Payment is not required.”

The idea for bringing Wheel It Forward to campus grew out of Quinnipiac’s EQUIP Rehabilitation program, where faculty and students identified a growing gap among patients who needed equipment but could not afford it. What began as a small, informal equipment closet on campus evolved into a full-scale partnership with the organization.

“Most disabilities are temporary and much of this equipment ends up sitting unused in basements,” Bedard said. “This gives it new life.”

“Our volunteer-driven team has been truly inspired by Quinnipiac University’s administration and students, whose vision made this collaboration possible. Together, we’re developing what we call the Quinnipiac Template — a model we aim to perfect and share with hundreds of physical therapy and occupational therapy graduate programs across the country. This initiative has the potential to make durable medical equipment lending libraries ubiquitous, enhance student learning and promote environmental sustainability,” said Elliot Sloyer, Founder and CEO of Wheel It Forward.

Students are also playing a key role in the program’s success. Sydney Iannizzotto ’24, DPT ‘27, a graduate student in the 4+3 dual-degree health science studies/doctor of physical therapy program and EQUIP Neighborhood Access co-leader, said the program benefits both users and future clinicians.

“The Wheel It Forward library is important because it allows borrowers to access durable medical equipment that may not be covered by insurance,” Iannizzotto said. “This equipment is often expensive and it can be difficult to find the right fit. With guidance from physical therapy students, clients receive proper sizing, education and support to use equipment safely and effectively.”

She added that the program also strengthens community involvement in healthcare.

“Wheel It Forward gives people access to equipment they may need along with education on how to use it,” she said. “That education is often missing when equipment is obtained through insurance, but it plays a vital role in ensuring safety and helping people get the full benefit from what they use.”

Ciara Collins ’24, DPT ‘27, a graduate student in the 3+3 accelerated dual-degree health science studies/doctor of physical therapy program, EQUIP Neighborhood Access co-leader and operations coordinator for the EQUIP clinic, said the program can be transformative for both users and students.

“The equipment we lend can be life-changing for members of our community by removing a major financial burden during a difficult time,” Collins said. “For students, it’s a valuable hands-on learning experience that helps us build real-world skills in fitting equipment and teaching safe use.”

She added that community engagement is central to better care.

“Community involvement can be a powerful gateway to more equitable healthcare,” Collins said. “Programs like Wheel It Forward make a meaningful difference in both physical and socio-emotional health.”

Located in Facilities Building No. 4 near the parking garage at the North Haven Campus, the site will open to the public following the grand opening. Regular hours will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m., available by appointment or walk-in. Organizers plan to expand hours over time as volunteer support grows, with the long-term goal of operating multiple days per week.

Through Quinnipiac’s EQUIP Rehabilitation program, students will play an integral role in the operation of the library. Under faculty supervision, students from across Quinnipiac’s health science programs will be involved. They will assess client needs, fit and adjust equipment, educate users and help manage inventory, gaining hands-on, interprofessional experience alongside real clients.

The impact is already being felt. In one early example, a family borrowed a wheelchair from the Quinnipiac site to take their grandparents on an international trip.

“We had a family take a wheelchair to Rome for their grandparents and now it’s back here ready for the next person — that’s the impact,” Bedard said.

Since its founding, Wheel It Forward has made a measurable difference across the region, saving individuals and families more than $4.2 million in equipment costs, diverting over 500,000 pounds of medical equipment from landfills and lending out an average of $4,000 worth of equipment daily.

The new Quinnipiac location will extend those benefits to families throughout the greater New Haven area, as well as nearby hospitals, surgical centers and social service agencies — while also serving as a living classroom for students across health disciplines.
Donations of gently used, non-customized equipment will be accepted beginning after the grand opening.

Learn more and support the initiative