Although Sunshine Service is known mainly as a lending agency for sickroom and medical equipment, its services are more far reaching.

Sunshine Service can provide a rollaway bed or cot for visiting family or friends. Also available for visiting grandchildren are cribs, playpens, folding high chairs, strollers and many other necessitates.

Amazingly enough, there is absolutely no rental fee for the use of these items. Hopefully, the grateful residents who use the service will make a donation, but no pressure is put on anyone to do so.

Sunshine Service is a non-profit corporation and is funded entirely by voluntary contributions and memorial gifts. No federal, state or municipal funds have ever been requested or received.

The roots of the agency date back to 1961 when the Sun City Civic Association (now the Home Owners Association) appointed a Sunshine Committee. Within a year, there was an apparent need for hospital beds, which rented for $35 a month, wheelchairs, canes, etc.

The committee purchased four hospital beds for $25 each, along with walkers and other second-hand equipment and residents began to donate items. The first bed and wheelchair were loaned out on April 2, 1962.

All equipment was stored in the apartment of the Rev. Duane Thistlethwaite, committee chairman, who went on to serve for 17 years as president of Sunshine Service.

Today, the agency occupies a building with 22,000 square feet of warehouse and office space. Sunshine Service equipment is used in about 2,800 homes each year. At any given time, they can have out on loan 1,000 walkers, nearly as many wheelchairs and about 100 hospital beds. Add to that countless canes, crutches, commodes, bedpans and more.

Click logo to visit the Sunshine Service web page.