South Dakota CARES, HALP Free Hearing Aid Program!

If you are a resident of South Dakota and have a hearing loss, congratulations!  South Dakota is one of the few States here in the U.S. that actually take a proactive approach to getting hearing aids to those that need them.  No, this is not a federal or state government program and they are not fully supported by tax dollars.  This is a group of people that just plain care! 

Here's the link to their website:  http://www.southdakotacares.org/

I was recently able to talk with the Director, Carol Balweg via email.  I had some questions for her on the program and she most graciously answered them.   Below is more information for those wishing to know more.

1.      Where do the hearing aids come from?

Our Hearing Aids come from ordinary people that have gotten new hearing aids and give us their old ones or from people that have no longer have a use for them.  When we receive hearing aids – we give them to our local audiologist, Julia Jones, who cleans them up – tests them – orders parts if necessary and keeps them for us in our “hearing aid bank.”  Julia donates all of her time.

2.      Who programs them or gives follow up care?  How does the program work? 

South Dakota CARES advertises that there is an application process, however, we turn no one down.  All there has to be is a ‘need.’  So, if you cannot hear – you qualify. 

Once we receive this application back we send them a letter saying that they will have to:

     A.      Pay for their hearing test

     B.     Pay for their molding

     C.      Once we receive the hearing test results – we send them to Julia Jones (once again our Audiologist in Pierre.)  She reviews our hearing bank and decides whether or not we have one that matches that individual.  Most generally we do.  If it is an adult that has a hearing loss, we provide one hearing aid – if it is a child just learning proper pronunciation with a hearing loss, we provide two. If the party is not located in the Pierre/Ft Pierre area the hearing aids are sent to the audiologist that sent us the hearing test to fit the individual with the hearing aid that we provide them.

3.       How many HA's have you given out over the past few years?

100’s of hearing aids we have given to people that have a need in any given year but always the demand is greater than the inventory of product.  CARES would appreciate any and all hearing aids to continue to provide to those with a hearing loss.

4.  Great program!  All that I need is the explaination of the process someone would do in order to get a used hearing aid to you.  And if it qualifies as a charitable donation.

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.  So, if they request a form from us so that they can state what they think the value of the hearing aids are, we will have our Audiologist determine the price of the hearing aid so that they can take the donation as a charitable donation.

5.  How would someone get in touch with you if they have a hearing loss and need a hearing aid?

We basically service only those in South Dakota.  People just need to drop us a note at:

South Dakota CARES, HALP (Hearing Aid Loan Program)

1351 N. Harrison Ave.  Pierre, SD  57501

Please state that you need a hearing aid and why and we will then send them an application.

There you have it.  Wouldn't it be nice if every state had a group like this?  When you consider that approximately 10% of the population has a hearing loss and only 3 of every 10 actually can afford and get hearing aids, it is quite obvious that there is a need for these types of programs. 

If you have any used/old hearing aids laying around in your drawers and would like to help the residents of South Dakota out, please consider sending them to South Dakota CARES.HALP.  It's would be a win for you on your tax return and an even bigger win for the person that will receive it.

Have a great week!