Roberta Elliott, 78, has been spending her nights sleeping on the couch. Unable to sleep peacefully or get comfortable in a traditional mattress, she gave her bed away to family some time ago.

Now, Elliott has received a hospital bed for free through Medical Equipment Recyclers of New England, previously known as Power Chair Recyclers of New England, and expects to finally have a good night’s sleep.

Elliot suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as acute bronchial asthma. Because of her serious breathing concerns she uses an oxygen tank at all times. In a traditional bed, without being properly elevated, she fell victim to “breathing attacks” throughout the night.

Similarly, Elliot has difficulty being comfortable because, after six surgeries on her back and neck after being a victim in a car accident, she has chronic nerve pain along her spine.

“I couldn’t tell you the last time I went to sleep without worrying,” Elliott said. “I’m trying to be strong and fight this.”

Throughout her hospital stays, Elliott had no trouble sleeping, but when she would return home she would have endless, restless nights.

Working with a “tight budget,” she knew she would never be able to afford a brand new hospital bed, which averages around $1,300, so she ventured onto Craig’s List in hopes of finding a good deal. What she found was a contest, hosted by Medical Equipment Recyclers, for a holiday giveaway, which planned on giving away various equipment to three winners.

“When I saw the contest I thought wow, wouldn’t that be great. It was just what I needed,” Elliot said.

With the help of Andrew Celani, operations manager for the company, Elliott entered the contest for a hospital bed, only to find out earlier this month that she won.

Both Celani and company owner John Perrotti visited Elliott late last week to set up the new bed.

Perrotti began the North Kingstown-based company in 2014 and has run the contest each holiday season. This year, along with Elliott Medical Equipment Recyclers also gave away two power chairs to Hector Aponte of Woonsocket and Chris Teves in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

The company services all of Rhode Island as well as areas of Connecticut and Massachusetts. They take power chairs, hospital beds, power lifts, walkers, wheelchairs and other medical equipment and refurbishes them to make high quality merchandise while simultaneously reducing landfill waste.

Perrotti said that his business is often able to sell equipment for less than half of the price it would be as brand new without compromising the quality of the product.

For a small business he assured that Medical Equipment Recyclers of New England but has experienced “rapid” growth in the past two years.

The contest is a way for the organization not only to give back to the community, but also to make the public aware that refurbished equipment is available at an affordable rate.

“We found our niche,” Perrotti said. “We are changing lives for the better, increasing the mobility and longevity of the folks who use our products. We are helping them live healthier lives.”

Elliott was extremely grateful when Celani and Perrotti delivered her bed, sharing hugs all around. She couldn’t believe just how lucky she was, saying over and over just how blessed she was to have won in the giveaway.

“Hopefully, this bed will help me breathe better and get rid of my aches and pains; maybe, I’ll actually be able to sleep through the night,” Elliott said. “Maybe I will wake up and feel brand new. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

For more information on Medical Equipment Recyclers of New England, visit their website at powerchairrecyclers.com, visit their Facebook page. You can also call 487-7005 or visit their offices in North Kingston at 7446 Post Rd. They are open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.