My Brother-in-Law passed away and left an almost new pair of hearing aids. They are Oticon Zircon 2 miniRITE R with charger, according to my wife, who flew out to help her sister. His wife (my SIL) and my wife (her sister) want to get these instruments to someone who will benefit from them.
They are not interested in ‘making a profit’ - donating to a reputable charity would be fine - but asked me to post here, in case someone has a practical suggestion. Almost like placing stray cats but not quite…
They (the hearing aids and my wife and SIL) are in San Francisco.
I did search the Forum for “charity” and came up with one thread from 2010 about donating hearing aids, but ran into a brick wall - as if everyone knows what organization to donate to, and only a moron would have to ask. So I’m asking.
I am open to PM and will check back on this thread in case the Forum software misses sending me reply notifications.
Sell them on eBay at a reasonable price. A person that really needs them will be happy to pay for them. If you give them away for free, a person that doesn’t need them will take them for the purpose of reselling them. “A reputable charity” BE REAL. A non-profit charity pay themselves the big salaries. Put them on eBay for $500 or wait for a friend or family member that needs them. …or use them yourself.
@elminero: I agree with this (and I’ve investigated a few charities in my day, in the line of my work, so am not reticent to concur with this judgement.)
Things given for free usually assume that value for the recipient - zero.
The local Facebook marketplace is free as is the classified section of this forum.
The way so many hearing aid businesses are about fitting aids they didn’t sell makes it tuff to do something nice for another who is hard of hearing.
Selling them for just enough money to keep the resellers out of it.
I have given aids and equipment to members here on the forum who know people in need. Your post here on the forum is a great way to start looking for the right person in need.
Back to the original question - I gave all my old (some very old) hearing aids and all accessories to my Audiologist to be refurbished if necessary to be given at no charge to their clients who are less fortunate and not able to afford new (expensive) hearing aids. This Audiologist office is located in a very affluent area, yet they have a need. During my next visit, I was told how very grateful 2 families were to receive the aids and streamers and TV adapters.
My previous Audiologist volunteered at the local senior center, and he fit my old aids to less fortunate seniors.
There is a need.
Call the Audiologist Office where they were purchased and ask if they could be fitted to someone less fortunate who needs hearing aids.
I would not donate to a random ‘charitable’ organization.
Yes, @WhiteHat … I (mis) spelled it Oldsum, per @Baltazard , and it said “Did you mean oldham?” I dunno … did I? Clicked on oldham, and the available facts fit.
, maybe he could hear the damage he and his administration are doing to the community.
