FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 16, 2005, 2:00 p.m. CT

(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman and Education Commissioner Doug Christensen are encouraging Nebraskans to donate assistive equipment for storm survivors who lost the equipment necessary for the enjoyment of everyday life to Hurricane Katrina. Senior citizens and people with disabilities of all ages lost equipment while being evacuated. Others need assisting devices because of illnesses or injuries resulting from the storm.

The Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership, part of the Nebraska Department of Education’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, has organized a three-day statewide equipment drive to be held Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 22-24, with the assistance of other organizations providing drop-off sites. Frontier Home Medical of Cozad agreed to pick up equipment at the drop-off sites and deliver it to Omaha. Two Men and a Truck, a private moving company, volunteered to deliver donated equipment to the Gulf Coast.

The equipment will be stored in Mississippi and distributed throughout the storm-affected region by the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability, a nonprofit organization that operates with state funds and governmental contracts at Mississippi State University.

Donated equipment should be in good working condition. Equipment needs for this affected population include the following:

* Wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, crutches
* Aluminum ramps
* Bath and shower benches
* Commodes
* Magnifiers
* Amplification systems and TTY's (also known as text telephone units)
* Grab bars
* Transfer lifts
* Hospital beds, trapeze bed bars and rails

Donations may be dropped off at the following locations Thursday and Friday, Sept. 22-23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or Saturday, Sept. 24, 8:00 a.m.-noon, unless otherwise listed:

* Beatrice-Beatrice Community Hospital Foundation, Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center, 1110 N. 10th Street, 402-228-3344
* Cozad-Nebraska Educational Assistive Technology, 1910 Meridian Ave., 308-784-4525
* Grand Island-Goodwill Store, 1804 South Eddy St., 308-384-7896
* Kearney-Assistive Technology Partnership/Vocational Rehabilitation, 2916 W. 24th St., 308-865-5420
* Lincoln-Center for People In Need, 5020 N. 57th St., 402-476-4357, Saturday 10 a.m.-noon; Assistive Technology Partnership, 5143 S. 48th St., Suite C, 402-471-3647
* Norfolk-Vocational Rehabilitation, 1212 Benjamin Ave. 402-370-3200
* North Platte-Goodwill Store, 102 E. William, 308-532-6221
* Omaha-Presbyterian Outreach, 216 S. 34th St., 402-341-6559, closed Saturday
* Scottsbluff-Panhandle Independent Living Services, 510 S. Broadway, Suite 2, 308-635-7901
* Valentine-Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 540 East Highway 20, 402-376-1790, closed Saturday

If you are unable to drop off your donation or to request additional information, call the Assistive Technology Partnership toll-free at 888-806-6287.