By Brandi McGrath Kong, Director of Member Services and Conferences

For those who require assistive devices, economics shouldn’t be a barrier to hearing health. Driven by the missions of organizations like Sertoma and Hearing Charities of America, and through the generosity of so many others, hearing aids are now available to those who might otherwise go without thanks to one of our flagship programs, the Hearing Aid Project (HAP). 

The project brings organizations together so that each fulfills a specific role in providing hearing aids to the individuals that need them. One important group helping us to reach this goal is our Sertoma clubs. We are fortunate to have a strong team of Sertomans dedicated to furthering our organization’s national hearing health mission. 

Your club can also take part in HAP when you:

1. Help connect HAP with a hearing professional in your area. Our program is only successful when we are able to match recipients with the professional audiologists and hearing aid technicians who will help them with their new hearing aids. If your club knows of local professionals who would be willing to participate in our program, let us know by having them complete our online form or emailing info@hearingcharities.org. Your club can then work with the national office to solicit and identify individuals who might qualify to receive needed hearing aids in your community
    
2. Become a local hearing aid donation “collection center.” Sertoma is one of few national hearing aid collection banks that have continued to operate post-COVID. When your club collects hearing aids and sends them to HQ, you are helping give the gift of hearing to individuals in need. Aids can be mailed to the Hearing Aid Project at 1912 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64132.
    
3. Hold a fundraiser in support of the Hearing Aid Project. HAP has been lucky enough to benefit from peer-to-peer fundraising over the years thanks to CELEBRATE SOUND®, Facebook Fundraisers and other initiatives. This financial support helps realize HAP’s mission of providing hearing aids to low-income individuals on a national scale.
    
4. Tell others about HAP. Promoting the Hearing Aid Project to your members and in your community is the simplest way you can show support for our program. We have staff willing to speak virtually with your group to educate them on all aspects of HAP. We can also provide you with materials that can be shared in your community to spread the HAP word.

Learn more about the Hearing Aid Project at www.hearingaiddonations.org.