When friends need help, the Starkey family steps up

Our friends in Dominica needed help after massive hurricanes caused catastrophic damage across the Caribbean island. Hurricane Maria is considered the worst natural disaster on record in Dominica.

Recognizing the dire needs, Starkey Hearing Foundation co-founder Tani Austin spearheaded an effort to collect supplies, food, water and basic necessities for the people of Dominica, as well as care packages for the team in St. Croix. In response, local friends, businesses, partners and employees of both Starkey Hearing Foundation and Starkey Technologies, showed an overwhelming outpouring of love and support.

In a little over a week, the Hurricane Maria Relief Drive collected over 75,000 pounds of supplies from water and baby formula to chainsaws and generators. Our partners, including Matter, Water for Life, General Mills, Rayovac (Spectrum Brands), and JNBA Financial Advisors, donated pre-packaged meals, Home Depot gift cards, filtered water straws, granola bars, flashlights, batteries, gloves and dust masks. The Starkey campus food services donated 500 bottles of water and 116 cases of granola bars, the Starkey Global Hearing Ambassadors, staff and supporters from near and far sent boxes filled with baby food, formulas, diapers, wipes, canned foods, solar powered charges, lanterns, building supplies and tools.

Kirk Richards, Starkey Hearing Foundation International Development Director for the Caribbean Region, said the response was above and beyond expectations.

“It has been a remarkable experience to see what has gone on in the past week,” Richards said. “Hurricane Maria has caused so much damage in Dominica and thanks to everyone’s support, we are able to provide the supplies and tools they need to help rebuild the country.”

Thanks to the incredible work of the Starkey international shipping team, four 20-foot shipping containers were packed and filled to capacity.

One of the most generous donations came from the Mediterranean Shipping Company, a world leader in global container shipping, which provided logistics and transportation services to move the supplies from Eden Prairie to Dominica.

“MSC came through to help us get these supplies to the people in need,” said Brady Forseth, Starkey Hearing Foundation executive director of philanthropy. “That’s what the sharing and caring heart is all about.”  

Starkey Hearing Foundation would like to thank everyone who donated money, volunteered their time or sent supplies in support of the Hurricane Maria Relief Drive.  

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