Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Address: 4900 Lewis Road Stone Mountain, GA 30083 Project Director Name: Chris Brand Contact Numbers: 404-784-5957 (cell), 770-414-0026 (fax) Email Address: chrisbrand@fodac.org Website Address: https://fodac.org/ Grant Funds Requested: $478,000.00 People with disabilities have limited access to affordable healthcare in Georgia, especially those living in rural areas. Over 2 million Georgians live with disabilities limiting their ability to walk, climb stairs, dress, bath, engage in activities, or go to medical appointments; of these 700,000 are children. FODAC’s Statewide Expansion to Serve People with Disabilities will build upon a 37-year history to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities by providing low to no cost refurbished durable medical equipment (DME). This project will expand partnerships with service delivery sites around the state, and a satellite facility in Savannah to provide DME such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, and walkers at low or no cost. This will make affordable DME more accessible to people with disabilities throughout Georgia and provide them with a greater variety of mobility items, and an affordable way to have items repaired. The Savannah facility will support the needs of the community whose poverty rate is nearly double the national average. FODAC’s mission is accomplished through the collection of donated equipment, refurbishment, sanitization, and redistribution to those in need. Medical items can also include powerchairs, scooters, bathing aides, pediatric equipment, and other items to provide mobility and independence to the aging community and people with disabilities. To address the needs of those in rural areas of the state, FODAC collaborates with 10 statewide partners who distribute FODAC’s refurbished DME to clients outside of metro Atlanta. The partnerships increase accessibility for people with disabilities and decrease the disparity of services available to those in underserved areas. Clients served through statewide partners account for 14% of the 3,000-4,000 clients served annually. To increase the number served, FODAC must significantly increase collection efforts of unneeded DME from the community to meet the demands of partners. Funding will provide 2 box trucks and 8 equipment collection containers or sheds to increase capacity to gather, deliver, and redistribute equipment. It will also provide equipment needs to fund the start-up costs for a new self-sustained FODAC facility in Savannah, where access is limited. The most important benefit to the community is the difference FODAC’s services make in the lives of adults and children dealing with an illness, injury, or disability. Client surveys report that: 72% of have increased mobility; 54 % have increased independence; 89% stated items reduce falls and injuries; and 86% stated that their DME reduces the burden for their caretakers and loved ones. Although a large majority of FODAC's clients are poor or economically challenged, clients do not have to qualify financially. FODAC attempts to serve all clients in need without regard to race, ethnicity, age, or gender.