Garry Walton, General Manager of AJ’s Loan Cupboard here in Medicine Hat, made a great presentation on the establishment, development and current situation and challenges, of AJ’s Loan Cupboard. Assisting with the presentation was Rotarian Alain Guerard, who volunteers at AJ’s twice a week.
Alain became a volunteer at AJs after a period in his life when he had needed and been able to loan a wheelchair from AJs.
A bit of history: upon the death of Alan Joys on January 20, 2002, the Alan Joys Memorial Fund Society was established in Medicine Hat, to provide a service like one offered via a Masonic Lodge program that was based in Kingsmill’s Department Store of London, Ontario. This program had provided, free of charge, all the equipment needed by Alan and his family, for the 18 months of palliative care Alan received at home, after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
AJ’s Loan Cupboard, a non-profit, charitable society, began operating in Medicine Hat in 2002.
We were proud to hear that the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat was key in starting the Loan Cupboard by sponsoring two equipment drives in the first four years.
The growth and development of AJ’s have been phenomenal, pointing to an increasing need in Medicine Hat and surrounding area, for medical equipment, for which there is no cost, no delays, and no qualifying criteria other than need.
In the first few years, support was provided to 10-15 families per WEEK. Today, with nearly 500 volunteer hours per month, AJ’s helps approximately 30-40 families PER DAY!
Garry shared that at the end of 2025, with 6267 pieces of equipment available, AJ’s had 5038 pieces loaned to 2,221 families.
Alain intimated that AJ’s is growing at a rate of about 9% per year regarding the number of families served. In terms of geographic coverage, this resource now supports communities as far as Oyen, Taber, Maple Creek, Brooks – and has donated equipment to the Ukraine.
AJ’s Loan Cupboard is open from Monday to Friday. Volunteers are always needed, to work at the front desk or to work with the equipment, fixing, cleaning and checking each piece.
The presentation was followed by a question and discussion time, during which many members shared happy stories about how AJ’s had come to the rescue when a particular piece of medical equipment had been needed in their home or the home of a family member or friend.
Thank you, Garry Walton and all your volunteers, for managing such a well run, indispensable resource in our community!
