Hurricane Damage Won’t Stop Us

In September 18, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Dominica as a Category 5 hurricane. The destruction of Hurricane Maria did not only impact human lives, property and livestock but the livelihood of farmers and fishermen who relied on the island for producing food from the ground known as ground provisions and the sea with fish.

Only a few short months earlier, Starkey Hearing Foundation had a Phase 2 mission on the Caribbean Island of Dominica, but on September 18th, 2017, Hurricane Maria began her devastating toll on the small country. People lost their homes, businesses, and some lost their lives and the people of Starkey Hearing Technologies knew immediately they needed to step up and provide aid. At the request of Chief Philanthropic Officer of Starkey Hearing Technologies, Mrs. Austin, employees from Starkey Hearing Technologies and the Foundation began donating needed items, filling four 20-foot containers to send to Dominica. Water, filtration systems, diapers, food, sanitary and medical supplies, building materials, generators, chainsaws and many other things started to fill the donation container. In February 2018, the containers were opened and the local team and volunteers from the Rotary Club of Dominica assembled care packages for more than 250 Starkey Hearing Foundation patients. The care packages were delivered to the patients through health centers and districts days after the unpacking.

On April 28, 2018, Starkey Hearing Foundation returned to Dominica. More than 250 patients have received the gift of hearing in Dominica since 2017 and it was important to the team and Mr. and Mrs. Austin that our patients impacted by the hurricane be seen in a specific aftercare mission.

Giving the gift of hearing is something that never gets old. Every mission leaves the team with the memory of certain patients that left a special mark on them. In Dominica, we were able to give back the gift of hearing to those who had been through something truly devastating. We got to hear their stories and see their strength and resilience. And most importantly, we got to give them back a piece of what Hurricane Maria took from them.

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