An Appanoose County TTT, Chapter A.S. recently accepted a $1,000 donation from the Wal-mart Foundation to go to the loan closet they run out of the basement of the Shoe Tree on the Square.

The loan closet, which provides medical equipment such as walkers, crutches and bathing equipment, is always in need of funding to replace old equipment or expand the amount of items they have for loan.

According to co-presidents Ruth Ann Dickerson and Diane Zaputil, the closet currently has about 5,000 pieces of equipment with about 2,500 loaned out at any one time.

"We have on average one or two [people] every day come in and get equipment," said Dickerson.

The loan closet is one of many projects that TTT is involved in in Centerville, and one of their biggest. One big help to them has been their partnership with Mercy Medical Center in Centerville, which allows them to buy new medical equipment at the same cost as the hospital.

"The hospital is very, very gracious about letting us order it [equipment] through them," said Zaputil.

TTT also chooses two deserving girls from the community each year to send to camp. Two fourth-grade girls are selected to attend a five-day camp in Wyoming, Iowa. According to Dickerson and Zaputil it is one of the most enjoyable activities TTT is involved in.

"The girls always come to our first meeting and tell us all about it," said Dickerson.

“It’s a beautiful little camp,” added Zaputil.

TTT began in Centerville in 1945 and eventually split into two local chapters, A.S. and E.R, both of which are still active. According to Zaputil at one time AS TTT had around 60 members, but today has around 30.

"People just are not joining organizations today," said Zaputil. “I think that’s a trend.”

All the members are dedicated and really want to support Centerville, according to Dickinson, and Zaputil adds that they have fun doing it.

"The ones [members] we have now are super active,” said Dickerson.

“And they never tell us no,” added Zaputil.

Besides the loan closet and the camp girls, AS TTT, also alternate working with the blood mobile every three months along with the Hospital Auxiliary and ER TTT and sell the milk during Pancake Day every year among other activities.