Wheel It Forward adds Mae’s Closet, expands Connecticut lending network

Wheel It Forward said July 29, 2026, that it completed the transition of Mae’s Closet from Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers of Greater New Haven, expanding its free durable medical equipment network to six library branches across Connecticut. The move is designed to preserve local access in Greater New Haven County while strengthening long-term support for residents who rely on borrowed equipment.

Why it matters: - The transition expands access to free durable medical equipment for individuals and families across Greater New Haven County and beyond. - Wheel It Forward now operates one of the largest durable medical equipment lending networks in the country. - The added support is intended to improve long-term sustainability for a community resource many residents use to stay safe and independent.

What happened: - Wheel It Forward announced on July 29, 2026, that it completed the transition of Mae’s Closet from Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers of Greater New Haven. - The transition took effect July 1, 2026. - Care New Haven states that the boards of both organizations officially transferred ownership and operation of Mae’s Closet to Wheel It Forward effective July 1, 2026. - The network now reaches six library branches serving greater Stamford, Stratford-Bridgeport, Newtown, North Haven, Hamden and New Haven.

The details: - Mae’s Closet will keep its mission in place while gaining operational support from Wheel It Forward. - The program has operated as a community-based durable medical equipment resource. - Wheel It Forward is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit lending library that lets people borrow and donate durable medical equipment at no cost. - IVCG is a nonprofit that serves older adults and neighbors across the New Haven region through volunteer-driven support programs. - Mae’s Closet is named for the aunt of co-founder Marilyn Bergen. - The program started after Bergen saw how a similar lending model could help older adults and families remain safe and independent.

Between the lines: - The deal preserves a local volunteer-built model while moving day-to-day operations into a broader nonprofit network. - The expansion suggests Wheel It Forward is using a hub-and-branch approach to scale a service that can be difficult for families to find quickly when medical equipment is needed. - IVCG’s decision to transfer the program signals confidence that Wheel It Forward can carry the service forward without losing continuity.

What's next: - Wheel It Forward will continue integrating Mae’s Closet into its Connecticut lending network. - The organizations expect the transition to support future growth in service delivery. - Community members in Greater New Haven County should continue to have access to the program under the new operator.

The bottom line: - Mae’s Closet is staying local in mission, but it now sits inside a larger statewide lending system built to widen access and improve durability of service.