Medical equipment program has new operator - Pipestone County Star

Jun 12, 2025

This is a sample of the medical equipment available for rent through re+active WELLness. The Pipestone business recently took over the medical equipment rental program that had been provided by the Pipestone American Legion Auxiliary for many years. Photo by Kyle Kuphal

A medical equipment rental program that was started by the Pipestone American Legion Auxiliary decades ago is now being operated by re+active WELLness in Pipestone. The program provides equipment such as crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, shower chairs, bath benches, toilet risers, knee scooters, transport chairs, arm pulleys, and other such equipment for rent for short-term use after a surgery or injury.

Pipestone American Legion Manager Amanda Hoss, who is also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, said multiple Legion Auxiliaries had such programs as a way to raise funds, but that she was not sure how widespread the program was and where it began. She said the American Legion Auxiliary started it in Pipestone in 1988 and it’s been run by Gert Bickford and Mary Lynn Portz for the last 15 years.

Hoss said the Auxiliary sought to find the program a new home due to liability reasons. She said Auxiliary members are not properly trained to fit the equipment to the users, fix it when it’s broken or sanitize it. The group posted to social media that it was looking for someone to take it over and Theresa Stangle, a physical therapist and owner of re+active WELLness, responded.“It’s valuable and I do get questions a lot about equipment, in terms of what would be best for this or what would be best for that,” Stangle said.

Hoss said Stangle is a “perfect fit” to take over the program and the Auxiliary donated the equipment they had to her.“We couldn’t be happier about where it went,” Hoss said.

Stangle said she is grateful that the American Legion Auxiliary operated the program for so long and that it gifted her the equipment. She said she’s added to the equipment the Legion Auxiliary had with items such as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit and a hospital bed someone donated, and she hopes to add more in the future. People can donate medical equipment if they no longer need it.

“By having donations, I can keep my costs lower because I don’t have to go buy it brand new,” Stangle said.Stangle said her goal is to continue to make the equipment available in the community and to keep it low cost like the Legion Auxiliary did. The equipment is available to anyone who needs it. Those interested can contact Stangle at re+active WELLness. Contact information is available at www.reactivewellness.org.