If you’ve recovered from surgery or an injury, that pair of crutches leaning against your closet wall still has plenty of life left. Most crutches are built to last far longer than a single recovery, and several practical options exist for passing them along, from local donation programs to online resale.
Donate to a Medical Lending Closet
The single best option for most people is donating to a medical lending closet. These are community-run programs, often operated by townships, senior centers, faith congregations, or nonprofits, that lend out crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility aids to people who need them temporarily and can’t afford to buy them. One Illinois-based program alone has given away nearly 3,204 pieces of equipment to people who otherwise couldn’t access it.
To find one near you, check with your local village or township hall, call nearby senior centers, or search the national directory at GotDME.org, which lets you look up places to borrow or donate mobility equipment by location. Many of these closets will happily pick up donations, and they tend to be less selective about cosmetic wear than thrift stores since they focus on function over appearance.
Donate to International Health Organizations
Several nonprofits collect used mobility aids and ship them to underserved communities around the world. Global Links recovers about 300 tons of surplus medical materials each year for health programs. Globus Relief has distributed equipment to over 800 charities in more than 140 countries. Advocates for World Health even accepts semi-functional or inoperable equipment because they have trained technicians who can repair minor damage before shipping.
Other organizations worth looking into include Medical Bridges, FAME (which accepts gently used medical supplies), and Esperança, which sends full shipping containers of donated medical goods to partners in Central and South America each year. Most of these organizations accept donations by mail or at designated drop-off points, and their websites list current needs and shipping instructions.
Give Them Away Locally
Before you assume Goodwill or your nearest thrift store will take crutches, call ahead. Many thrift stores specifically exclude medical equipment from their accepted donations. The Assistance League, for example, explicitly lists “medical equipment” among items it won’t take. Goodwill policies vary by location, so your local branch may or may not accept them.
Better local options include posting on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or your neighborhood’s Buy Nothing group with a “free” listing. Crutches are one of those items where someone in your community almost certainly needs a pair right now. You can also call local physical therapy clinics, orthopedic offices, or urgent care centers. Some keep a small supply of loaner crutches and will gladly accept a clean, functional pair.
Sell Them Online
Standard aluminum crutches don’t command much on the resale market, typically selling for $10 to $20 for a pair on local marketplaces. But if you have higher-end crutches (forearm crutches, carbon fiber models, or ergonomic designs that retail for $100 or more), resale makes sense. OfferUp, which merged with the Letgo marketplace, has over 20 million monthly active users and works well for bulky items since you can arrange local pickup and skip shipping costs entirely. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are equally effective for local sales.
If you’re willing to ship, eBay is the strongest platform for specialty crutches. Listings with clear photos showing the brand, model, and condition tend to sell faster. For basic aluminum crutches, local pickup platforms are more practical since shipping costs can easily exceed the sale price.
Clean Them Before Passing Them Along
The CDC classifies crutches as “noncritical” medical items, meaning they only contact intact skin. A simple cleaning with soap and water or a household detergent is sufficient. You don’t need hospital-grade disinfectant. Wipe down the entire frame, paying extra attention to the handgrips and underarm pads where sweat and skin oils accumulate. If the rubber tips are worn smooth or cracked, replacement tips cost a few dollars at most pharmacies and make the crutches safer for the next user.
Check the adjustment pins and wing nuts to make sure they still lock securely at different heights. Crutches that slip or collapse are dangerous, so if the locking mechanism is damaged, note that for whoever receives them or consider recycling instead.
Recycle the Metal
If the crutches are too damaged to use safely, they’re still recyclable. Most crutches are made from aluminum tubing, which scrap yards accept readily. Remove the rubber tips, foam padding, and any plastic components first, then bring the bare metal to a scrap recycler. Some curbside recycling programs accept aluminum items this size, but check your local rules since many require you to bring oversized metal to a drop-off facility instead. The rubber and foam components go in the regular trash.