How Partnerships Turn Resources Into Real Care

At Roots Community Health, our ability to meet people where they are depends on strong, values-aligned partners who understand that access to care is not one-size-fits-all and believe that resources should follow real need. MedCycle Network is one of those partners.

MedCycle Network is a Bay Area–based nonprofit on a mission to transform medical surplus into health access. Rather than allowing high-quality unused medical supplies and equipment to be discarded, MedCycle works with hospitals and health systems to rescue surplus supplies, catalog them into a transparent online inventory, and redistribute them at no cost to safety-net clinics and community partners that serve under-resourced populations.

Through their partnership with Roots, MedCycle supports Oakland STOMP (Street Team Outreach Medical Program) by ensuring that frontline teams have the tools they need to respond to urgent, real-world health needs on the streets of Oakland. In their inaugural delivery to STOMP, the MedCycle Network provided a transformative shipment of essential medical supplies, including braces, walkers, and specialized wound care products. 

For people experiencing homelessness, many of whom are managing untreated injuries, chronic conditions, mobility limitations, and infections, these supplies are not optional. They are often the difference between stabilization and a medical crisis. 

For STOMP clients, these supplies represent more than care, they represent dignity. For clinicians and outreach workers, being able to offer immediate, practical support in the moment builds trust and reduces harm. This support allows Roots teams to stabilize health concerns on the street, prevent complications, and create clear pathways to longer-term care through programs like Welcome Wednesday and ongoing primary and behavioral health services.

MedCycle’s partnership reflects a shared belief that healthcare should not depend on where someone lives, stores their belongings, or sleeps at night. By redirecting surplus medical supplies to frontline programs, MedCycle helps close critical gaps in care while reducing waste, demonstrating how strategic, values-aligned partnerships can multiply impact.

Partners like MedCycle help make Roots’ No Wrong Door model possible. Their generosity strengthens our ability to respond quickly, care deeply, and serve our community with respect, on the street, on campus, and wherever care is needed most.