Delta Zeta has supported Starkey Hearing Technologies for five consecutive years.
Photo Courtesy of Delta Zeta
The Delta Zetas have once again committed to fundraising and raising awareness for Starkey Hearing Technologies. On Thursday, March 29, several sorority members set up at McDonald’s on Oakvale Road in Princeton to spread the word about exactly what the cause does.
Between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., for community members who either went through the drive-thru or went inside to eat, 20 percent of the cost of their meals directly went toward Starkey’s foundation. The Delta Zetas also had a donation jar for anyone who wanted to further support the cause. At the end of the night, through only donations alone, they received a little over 80 dollars from community members. When the time comes to send all the proceeds to Starkey, the sorority pays to have it safely shipped, so the cause will receive 100 percent of the proceeds.
Delta Zeta has specified national philanthropies which they continuously put in work to support, but Concord’s chapter has chosen Starkey because they truly appreciate the cause and what it does for the nation. Sydney Waugh, a member of Delta Zeta and Vice President of Programs, says, “We have people in our lives who need hearing aids, and for this to supply hearing aids to people who can’t afford them, or even gives them to younger kids, that’s why we keep doing it.”
Waugh continued by saying how it is important that Delta Zeta continues to support this cause, as it is something people will always need. Through Starkey and Delta Zeta, they are able to supply those people with hearing aids at little to no cost. These help individuals live a more productive life. “This supply’s them with the ability to hear. No one has to feel different just because they have a tough time hearing.”
According to Starkey Hearing Technologies, 48 million Americans experience hearing loss to the point that it can make communication difficult. This means that roughly 1 in 6 Americans will experience hearing loss throughout their lifetime. Studies show how adults with severe loss of hearing are five times more likely to develop dementia, especially if they are not properly taking care of this disability.
Elizabeth King, president of Delta Zeta, shares that seeing individuals get to hear for the first time and watching the process of getting their hearing aid is truly amazing. She suggests that it is not just Delta Zeta’s event, but a community event as a whole since there are so many people involved. “It’s really awesome, because we really are changing people’s lives forever.”
King states how it is an uplifting experience to see, because they are not just given the hearing aids, they also receive training on how to use them throughout their daily lives. It is an entire process, she states. “We have gotten to see how our entire sorority is making a difference in not only the community, but across the nation as well.”
Compared to last year's event, this year's turn out was even greater than originally imagined. The community reacted very well, and the event received extremely positive feedback. A community member attending the event who was hearing impaired said that she had never seen anyone raise awareness for something like this. She was extremely thankful and thrilled by the work of the sorority members.
The Delta Zetas promoted the event through social media, including their Instagram and Facebook pages. An event page was created on Facebook which the members of the sorority shared to get as many feet in the door as possible. A university-wide announcement was also made to let the community know more information about the event and how they could help. Next spring, Delta Zeta is planning to bring the event back for its sixth consecutive year.