Lend An Ear Outreach Blog

7-13-2021 Lend An Ear Outreach continues their goal in conjunction with The Towers of Jacksonville to keep fitting the qualified residents with hearing aids at no cost to them.
Here are the Testimonies for today:

Peggy B. I’m speechless but want to say I’m looking forward to sounds that I’ve been missing.

Patricia C. These hearing aids will give me a better quality of life and I won’t have to ask “WHAT WHAT WHAT” all the time!!!!

Nadia V. I lost my hearing years ago due to a serious ear infection and have been suffering with minimal hearing ever since. It’s been 40 years since I have heard nature or conversations. I Thank You very much for your goodness.

Mura L. When I was 7 years old I had a Doctor flush out my ears because of some problems. He caused permanent damage and I lost my hearing at that time. So for 72 years I have suffered with hearing loss.

Lend An Ear Outreach always strives to be true to its mission. To provide the gift of hearing by furnishing quality hearing aids to those with limited or no means, in an atmosphere of dignity and compassion. ... See more

7-9-2021 Dr. Melisa Sharpe Volunteer Audiologist for Lend An Ear Outreach.

A Testimony/Story: A testimony is given by an individual with special qualifications or credentials that enables him or her to provide information. A story is a means of transforming information, experience, attitude or point of view…….. Ladies and Gentlemen below shows what Lend An Ear Outreach can do for our recipients!!

As a Audiologist I do volunteer work for Lend An Ear Outreach and work for Clay County School systems. I was checking on a student one day and ran into the speech pathologist who asked if I knew of a way to get hearing aids for a 1st grader who is a immigrant ( Jeimy M.) and therefore does not have insurance.
I contacted Scott the Executive Director at Lend An Ear Outreach explained the situation and he said “ LETS HELP HER”!!!!
The process began with ear mold impressions that I took at her home. She decided on sparkle molds and pink hearing aids. The hearing aids arrived in two weeks and we immediately got her on the schedule.
On July 9th she arrived at the Arlington Eye and Hearing Clinic with her dad and
brother. She was quiet and reserved and very unsure of what was happening. But once I fitted her with the new hearing aids she lit up and started talking!!! I never heard her sweet voice before! I asked her if she picked out her dress to match her hearing aids and she said yes.
She gave me the biggest smile and hug afterwards. I’m so excited to see how this beautiful child does in school this fall. I’m personally very thankful for Lend An Ear Outreach and honored to be part of their team.

The Lend An Ear Outreach Team has great respect for all our Volunteer Audiologist that help in the process of giving the gift of hearing to all ages at no cost to them. ... See more

7-7-2021 Lend An Ear continues its commitment to the Towers of Jacksonville in providing Hearing Aids at no cost to qualified recipients.
Below are three testimonials from today’s event.

Annette S. - Lend An Ear Outreach has given me the gift of hearing. I really really didn’t know how bad it was until I got my Hearing Aids today - my Hearing was really bad!! I truly thank this organization for helping me hear again. God Bless all of you.

Dr. G.K. - I am extremely happy to be wearing these brand new hearing aids. It truly is a miracle that I have a chance to be a recipient. Now I can really hear!!!!!!

Lucille N. - Lucille is 103 years old and what a pleasure it was to get her testimony. She said she could hear for the first time in 25 years. She praised our Audiologist for giving her a great experience!!!!
NO MORE SHAKING MY HEAD “YES” WHEN EVERYONE IN THE ROOM KNOWS IM NOT HEARING ANYTHING THATS BEING SAID!!!!!

Quick note: part of the process of receiving your hearing aids you sit down and go over some paperwork!!! This is informative sheets on Troubleshooting, Care of your hearing aids, etc. But one section states you are eligible for new Hearing AIDS from Lend An Ear Outreach in 5 years!!!
Lucille told me I’ll see you in 5 years. She would be 108.

Also we had a volunteer from The Towers of Jacksonville who drove these ladies back and forth to the Lions Club Eye and Hearing Clinic to get there hearing aids he would give his name he just wanted to do the right thing for his fellow residents!!! ... See more

6-29-2021 Ability Housing Tour

Tanya Adam’s Ability Director of Development and Engagement gave Scott and Walle a very informative tour of three facilities within the Ability Housing portfolio.

1. Mayfair Village (83 units)is Ability Housing first multifamily development. This was a extremely distressed property that suffered from high crime rates. Today it is an asset to the community and the merchants in the area an inclusive community where individuals and families grow together.

2. Village at Hyde Park(80 units) are three-story garden style apartments that provide affordable housing to low-income individuals and families, residents have access to on-site supportive services. Case managers and certified peer support specialists work on site helping residents achieve their goals. They also provide units that are accessible to persons with mobility, hearing, and/or vision impairments.

3. Village on Wiley (43 units) opened in August 2015 to serve Jacksonville’s most vulnerable citizens. It’s residents were identified as the community’s highest utilizers of crisis services; more than 80% experienced chronic homelessness. Village on Wiley provides voluntary, individualized support services to compliment its affordable housing units. It was part of “The Solution That Saves” a Florida pilot program which identified the improved outcomes and Florida specific cost savings of providing Permanent Supportive Housing to high utilizers of crisis services.

Ability by the numbers:
1. 1,524 people housed.
2. 821 households provided homes.
3. 386 chronically formerly Homless people housed.
4. 96% housing stability rate
5. 19,208 hours of case management.
6. Female 55% Male 45% Children 37%

This tour and our conversations were priceless in understanding the homeless perplexity and the need for affordable housing.

Thanks Tanya for a excellent tour. ... See more

6-16-2021 Lions Club Eye Clinic.
Lend An Ear Outreach is working in conjunction with The Towers of Jacksonville to fit 24 residents/recipients for Hearing Aids at no cost to them by June 30th.
Today I wanted to share Three Testimonies and to let everyone know we are on Target in accomplishing our goal.

Christine H.
WOW! What a big difference my Hearing Aids make! I feel like a brand new person in a brand new world!!!! I’m looking forward to becoming fully engaged with my love ones!!! I can’t Thank You enough!!! Special Thanks to Dr. Judith.

Barbara K.
I was a flight attendant for 30 years and the engine noises where we sat were very loud. Over the years it affected all our ears. I had problems hearing the TV but I look forward to hearing my friends knocking at my door.

Cheryl B.
I sincerely express my gratitude to all the organizations that are making this possible for me and the other recipients at the Towers of Jacksonville to receive these Hearing Aids.
Everyone who has received and experienced them are extremely happy to be the beneficiaries of such a gift.
It’s wonderful for me as well as my family and friends now t to ask for a repeated word or phrase.
I also love not having to turn the volume up and make others uncomfortable. But most of all I no longer have to be embarrassed about misunderstanding or staying confused about what was said!!!!
I love the fact that the Hearing Aids are easy to maintain. The fact they are rechargeable is a big plus!!!
I pray for all the organizations involved with this program that blessing come back to all tenfold, as promised by Jesus in his word.
( Cheryl has had her Hearing Aids for a week now she drove her friend from the Towers of Jacksonville to obtain her Hearing Aids today)

Recap: Lend An Ear will fit 24 recipients.
CapTel provided 10 Phones for recipients. Lions Club will provide 4 pairs of glasses to residents of Towers of Jacksonville.

Ladies and Gentlemen this is the impact organizations can make when they work together! ... See more

6-3-2021 Lions Club Eye Clinic/Lend An Ear Outreach partnership welcomed Shannon Nazworth President & CEO of Ability Housing.

Ability Housing is dedicated to providing safe, affordable housing for all those who need it, including some of our most vulnerable neighbors - families and individuals who are experiencing or at risk homelessness, seniors, veterans, and adults who have a disability - so they can grow as contributing members of our community.

They also provide supportive housing - the evidence-based practice linking affordable housing with individualized, voluntary supports: a proven solution for ending chronic homelessness. It helps people who face the most complex challenges live with stability, autonomy and dignity.

Charlie Largen Lions Club, Scott Hetzinger Lend An Ear Outreach and Shannon Nazworth Ability Housing will consolidate resources to help Children, Adults, and Seniors who are in need of Vision and Hearing care. ... See more

6-4-2021 Vicars Landing Golf Charity Event on April 14th 2021 was a continued success. 80 + participants met at the St.Johns Golf and Country Club 219 St. John's Golf Drive, St. Augustine FL. To enjoy great weather, fellowship, and some good golf.

The annual Vicars Landing and Lend An Ear Golf Tournament was filled with raffles, games and a fabulous barbecue banquet. We appreciate all the support from our vendors and other organization's for this event. All proceeds will go to the Vicars Landing Scholarship Fund, Employee Assistance Fund, and Lend An Ear Outreach Programs. Enjoy the pictures and we will see you next year. This could not be a success without your support. ... See more

Lend An Ear Outreach is proud to be featured on First Coast News for our partnership with the Jacksonville Arlington Lions Club!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f19dCEii8jw&t=175s

3-20-2021 Lend An Ear was invited to the North Florida Lions Hearing Aid Bank Event with was held in at Beef O Brady’s in Palatka, Florida. This was a meeting for the Bank Board of Directors, All Club-approved representatives, the Governor and Vice Governors in the North Florida area. Lend An Ear present and explained the history of LAE. We also explained the current program we are doing at the Arlington Eye. ... See more

3-17-2021 Ken Amaro from First Coast News was welcomed at the Lions Eye Clinic as he did interviews with Vision is Priceless, Lions Eye Clinic, and Lend An Ear Outreach.

Ken started his career at First Coast News and has received numerous awards including the Florida News Maker, Associated Press, and Florida Medical Association awards.

First Coast News On Your Side ( Getting it done with Ken Amaro ) is a show which gives a platform to the voice of community newsmakers.

Ken Amaro brings 42 years of investigative reporting to the discussion engagaging viewers with community leaders, change making citizens, youth activists and many more. The show is on Saturday’s at noon.

Watch Lions Club Eye Clinic, Vision is Priceless, and Lend An Ear Outreach as they will be featured on Ken’s show this Saturday. ... See more