Chair Lift Donated To Help Greenburgh Woman

GREENBURGH, NY — A Greenburgh Housing Authority resident who has difficulty using the stairs in her apartment will soon have a stairlift installed so she can get outdoors.

Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, while on one of his daily bicycle calls around town, heard from a woman whose daughter was unable to leave her apartment easily.

The daughter lives on the second floor and is basically a prisoner in her own bedroom, he was told.

Feiner said he put out a call on the town's website and social media asking for donations and ideas for funding a stairlift.

The donations started coming in to a medical equipment fund managed by the Greenburgh Police EMS when Gullotta House, the charitable organization that helps Westchester County residents who have financial or other hardships, offered to take on the project.

Matthew Gullotta, the founder and president of Gullotta House, said they would pay for the purchase and installation of a seven-stair mechanized chair lift from Hudson Pharmacy & Surgical, a medical equipment supplier in Ossining.

Feiner said the company has already come out for a site visit and set the installation for Wednesday.

He said the mother of the woman who will benefit from the chair lift said it was a life-changing experience for her daughter, who will in turn speak with other residents to help the town identify others in need.

Feiner said he's asked the Housing Authority also to identify its residents who could benefit from lifts or other devices.

"This is just the latest in examples of the community helping those who need assistance," he said.

Any excess donations that have come in will go toward similar needs of those living in Greenburgh, Feiner said.

If anyone wants to contribute to future medical equipment, checks can be sent, with "charity fund" in the memo line, to the Greenburgh Police Department EMS, 188 Tarrytown Rd., White Plains NY 10607.

Donations may also be made to the nonprofit Gullotta House.