Wheel It Forward Takes Over Mae’s Closet DME Lending Program

NEW HAVEN, Connecticutt—Wheel It Forward announced that it has completed the transition of Mae’s Closet from Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers of Greater New Haven (IVCG), expanding its durable medical equipment (DME) lending network to six library branches serving communities across Connecticut.

Wheel It Forward is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit lending library that allows people to borrow and donate DME at no cost. IVCG is a nonprofit organization serving older adults and neighbors across the New Haven region through volunteer-driven support programs. Mae’s Closet, named for the aunt of co-founder Marilyn Bergen, began after Bergen saw how a similar lending model could help older adults and families remain safe and independent.

The transition, effective July 1, keeps Mae’s Closet’s mission in place while adding operational support intended to strengthen long-term sustainability and broaden access for individuals and families in Greater New Haven County. 

“We are honored to build on the remarkable foundation that IVCG and Mae’s Closet’s dedicated volunteers established,” said Elliot Sloyer, CEO and founder of Wheel It Forward. “Launched in 2019, their leadership created a program with enduring value, and Wheel It Forward is deeply grateful for the trust placed in us to carry this work forward.”

The organizations said this transition will help preserve continuity for community members who rely on the program while supporting future growth in service delivery.

“Mae’s Closet has been a powerful example of what community care can achieve,” said Daniel Camenga, executive director of IVCG. “We are grateful to the founders, volunteers and supporters who built this legacy, and we are pleased to see it continue with Wheel It Forward.”