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<p><strong>By Lolita Huckaby&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>April 1 is no joke for volunteers and supporters of The Lending Room.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The nonprofit which accepts and distributes gently used medical equipment began 60 years ago in a volunteer’s garage thanks to the efforts of the Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>This year, Friday, April 1, thanks to the generosity of Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the agency will be moving to its new home at 954 Ribaut Road, across the street from the hospital. April 1 also happens to be the same day in 2019 the agency opened at its previous home on Parris Island Gateway, next to the Habitat for Humanity Re- Store.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“We’re thrilled to be this close to Beaufort Memorial Hospital,” The Lending Room Board President Martha O’Regan said.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>And with proximity to the Good Neighbor Medical Clinic one block to the south, “it’s going to be great for our clients and expands on our existing relationship with these great, health professionals,” she added.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>With the new location, coordinators are hoping to expand the Lending Room’s cadre of volunteers so that the facility can be open more hours during its five-day schedule.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“We’ve been able to open the office for partial hours on Monday through Friday but with more volunteers, those hours could definitely be expanded,” O’Regan said.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The organization, which relies on donations and grant money to distribute donated equipment for a nominal fee, will officially open its doors for business on April 4.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Tax deductible donations can be made via check to The Lending Room, Inc., by mail (P.O. Box 1535, Beaufort, 29901) or dropped off at the new office. For more information about the organization, visit https://lendingroombeaufort.com.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><em>Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and former reporter/editorial assistant/columnist with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today, Beaufort Today and The Robesonian (Lumberton, N.C.). She can be reached at bftbay@gmail.com. </em></p>
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<p>The&nbsp;</p>
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