Medina Lions to donate medical equipment to Ukraine

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Bill Jurinich, left, and Dave Bellucci stand in the area filled with hospital beds in the Medina Lions’ Medical Loan Closet at the Olde Pickle Factory. The Lions have announced an effort to ship some of their surplus medical equipment to Ukraine.

MEDINA – When Medina Lions agreed to take over the Medical Loan Closet from Lyndonville Lions prior to the Covid pandemic in 2020, they couldn’t have imagined the scope of the service they would provide.

Now, they are preparing to expand that service even further by donating medical equipment to war-torn Ukraine.

The idea was born when little more than a week ago. Lion Bill Jurinich of Lyndonville attended a family reunion in Pennsylvania.

Jurinich explained his grandfather immigrated to Pennsylvania from Ukraine, and subsequently was responsible for a large number of relatives joining him.

During the recent reunion, Jurinich learned that a family member from the Salvation Baptist Church in State College was coordinating a drive to gather supplies for families in Ukraine and Moldova.

Lion Dave Bellucci points to a huge supply of crutches which have been donated to the Lions Medical Closet. The Lions are preparing to join a Lions Club in Pennsylvania in supplying medical equipment to Ukraine.

Jurinich said his relative’s church was also looking into the logistics of getting walkers and wheelchairs, even hospital beds, to Ukraine.

In 2019, Jurinich’s Pennsylvania relatives and their church sent more than 150 coats to Orleans County for Hands for Hope, and knowing the abundance of medical equipment in the Medina Lions’ Medical Loan Closet, Jurinich approached Medina Lions with the idea to help the Pennsylvania Lions in their mission project.

He explained his Pennsylvania relatives were looking into obtaining a container to ship items such as wheelchairs, toilets and even hospital beds to Ukraine.

Jim Punch, who heads the Lions’ Medical Loan Closet, said they continue to accept donations and to loan medical equipment. Anyone wishing to donate or borrow equipment should call (585) 205-3502.

From left, Dave Bellucci, Jim Punch and Bill Jurinich look over some of the many walkers in the Medina Lions Medical Closet.