Odd Fellows loan closet, and all services clubs, face recruitment difficulties (3 photos)

The Sault Ste. Marie Independent Order of Odd Fellows ‘Loan Cupboard’ currently provides 1,308 locals with 4,500-5,000 pieces of medical equipment at any given time.

A steady rise in the need for that service over the last decade mixed with greater challenges in volunteer staffing, means the cupboard needs help.

All service clubs are having a difficult time, said Loan Cupboard volunteer Bev Morrissette, 77, who first became a member of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies — the female branch of the Odd Fellows — when she was 18.

She remembers the Odd Fellow meetings at the hall back then would be so full that people were forced to stand up along the sides.

Today, there are usually around four or five people at the meeting, she said.

For the last 20 years Morrissette worked in the Odd Fellows ‘Humanitarian Branch’, taking care of the Loan Cupboard.

The Cupboard loans out hospital beds, walkers, I.V. poles, wheel chairs, commodes, crutches, and other physical needs equipment for whoever is in need.

When she first started, the Odd Fellows only needed to take care of a couple hundred clients but there were also lots of other service clubs providing similar services she said.

Because those groups have stopped, because the general population is aging, and because people are changing the way in which they live and get medical care, there is a much higher demand from the Odd Fellows she said.

“Nobody stays in the hospital as long,” said Morrissette. “If you stay in a week now, it’s considered a long time. It used to be you stayed their throughout your convalescence — now you get a hip replacement and you’re out in three days.”

The impact of an aging population can also be felt with the increase in wait times for nursing and retirement homes she said.

While waiting to get into these places, people need the proper equipment to live in their homes.

“It used to be you got older you didn’t have to wait two or three years to get into retirement homes where they need full time care. Parents are busy working now. People don’t have time to look after family members that need help and the health system wants them at home. For them to stay at home this sort of equipment is required,” she said.

The increased demand in services is being conversely met with a decrease in the number of people who are volunteering.

Service clubs as a whole are challenged with recruiting younger members, said Morrissette.

“People are too busy." 

"I’m married, I raised a family, I worked shift work, and I’m still working. But, today, they don’t want to find a time to volunteer. They are busy with their own lives. The need is, only as far as I can see, the need is only going to get bigger but the services aren’t going to be there,” she said. “Talk to the Elks, the Masons, the Legion, any of your service groups. They’re all suffering from membership because young people just aren’t getting involved.”

Without members the actual halls that these service clubs are located in might go away, she said.

“It’s not just volunteers, we need to keep the lodge going. It is our backbone. If the lodge goes we go,” she said.

The Loan Cupboard is not in danger of closing — yet, said Morrissette, but every one of the five volunteers there is over 60 and, if a couple get sick, it could really disrupt the service.

Volunteers would be good to have, said Morrissette, especially new younger ones, that can help support the hall.

If anyone would like to get involved with the Loan Cupbaord call 705-949-0137 or visit the Odd Fellows Hall at 124 Dennis Street, Monday-Friday, from  from 9 a.m. - noon.