« Sorenson Media donates $250,000 to 2007 Deaflympic winter games | Main | Japan government to pay US$27m in noise pollution suit »
February 18, 2005
Man donates hearing aids for mission
Doug Cirino donates hearing aids to Temple Baptist Church every year. His attendance on last year's mission gave him insight on the impact one little piece of machinery has on a child.
"All of a sudden, you put a hearing aid in a child's ear and their face just brightens up with a smile," Cirino said.
Cirino believes in the healing power of hearing for young and old. Cirino works as a hearing aid consultant for Miracle Ear in Sears at Turtle Creek Mall.
He often visits nursing and assisted-living homes to help people with their hearing aids. He also performs hearing screenings and ear inspections once a month at McRae's in Turtle Creek Mall.
He recently donated more than 40 used hearing aids to Temple Baptist Church for its mission in Honduras.
Church members will travel March 12 to the Honduran Children and Family Institute to give the renovated hearing aids to deaf children there.
Cirino began donating the hearing aids about three years ago after patients approached him about options for getting rid of them.
An influx of people switching to digital aids in the last few years saw more customers trading in their old ones.
Cirino said the hearing aids sometimes have a sentimental value for some people. Used hearing aids often belong to deceased loved ones.
"They want to see the hearing aids be of use to somebody," Cirino said. "This gives me an avenue to channel the hearing aids to positive use."
Photos from last year's mission, which he was able to attend, assured the donors their hearing aids would be used for good.
Hilda McGee, mission organizer for Temple Baptist Church, said Cirino helped a lot during last year's mission. He performed audiology testing and helped fit the hearing aids for the children.
"He's just a very pleasant person to be around and he's probably one of our biggest donors," McGee said.
McGee will miss Cirino on this year's mission. Cirino will see his daughter, Melissa, relinquish her title as Lamar County Junior Miss the same week the mission takes place.
He said a hearing aid can open up a child's life to participating in such activity.
"When a person cannot hear, they withdraw from social activity," Cirino said. "The hearing aid opens up a whole new world."
By Natasha Smith
Photo credits go to Gavin Averill
Posted by 4HL on February 18, 2005 12:15 AM
Send this article to a friend