Mae's Closet
Please call (475) 414-8333 to see if your items are available or to make a donation. Together, we will arrange an appointment to meet at our Hamden location. This is NOT located at the IVCG administrative offices.
Operating under the auspices of Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers, Mae's Closet is a durable medical equipment lending bank serving the Greater New Haven area. We lend and accept donations of gently used medical equipment. All of our inventory is sanitized and inspected for safety.
Program Logistics
To borrow equipment from Mae's Closet, please call (475) 414-8333 between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday or email us at MaesCloset@CareNewHaven.org. A volunteer will check the inventory in an effort to address your need. You'll receive a follow-up call from a volunteer to arrange an appointment.
You may, as an alternative, request equipment by filling out the form below.
Special note for our visitors: When you arrive at our closet location, please meet your volunteer OUTSIDE the facility. Please do not go into the office or ask for us at the front desk.
Find Us
Please DO NOT leave any unattended equipment at the Mae's Closet facility or at 30 Gillies Road (the IVCG administrative office is a different location).
When arriving at the Mae's Closet facility, please DO NOT go into the office at that facility. A Mae's Closet volunteer will meet you OUTSIDE the facility. Mae's Closet is accessible by appointment only at a separate location (not at the IVCG office location). When an appointment is scheduled, the address, date, and time will be provided by one of the volunteers.
Donate
Mae's Closet gratefully accepts new and gently used medical equipment such as wheelchairs, travel chairs, walkers, knee walkers, bathroom assistance devices such as bath chairs and commodes, and miscellaneous assistance devices such as grabbers and bed rails. As part of our new partnership with Connecticut Quest for Peace, we have started accepting soft goods such as braces and boots as well as medical supplies. Please call or email us to make arrangements for your donation. Unfortunately, we are not able to pick up equipment.
IVCG also provides free adult incontinence products (e.g. soft items such as adult diapers, pull-ups, etc.) to those in need. For more information or to donate unused products, contact the IVCG office at (475) 257-6538.
Upon receipt of your donation, we will issue you a receipt for tax purposes. If you wish to make a monetary donation to the Mae's Closet program of IVCG, please send a check made out to IVCG with Mae's Closet on the memo line.
Downsizing and wondering what to do with your other unwanted belongings? Check out the Downsizing Donation Guide for residents of New Haven County.
History: Who was Mae?
Mae was the aunt of Marilyn Bergen, one of the co-founders of the Closet. At the age of 100, Mae received a red rollator walker from Charlie’s Closet in Guilford for the cost of a dollar! She was the last of the aunts when she died at 102, so she had a special place in the life and heart of our wonderful extended family. It was important for Marilyn to keep this legacy alive, thus the energy for Mae’s Closet was born! Ann Levison joined as co-coordinator to honor her dear friend, Cecilie, and to help move this idea along. Five years later, IVCG took Mae's Closet under their banner (and 501(c)(3) status) and we relaunched in May, 2019.
Mae (and the aunts) would be pleased that we are helping others as she was helped. We believe that Mae and Cecilie are blessing us and those who benefit from Mae’s Closet!