Pnina Souid
Sharon, a woman in her forties, reached out to the Mitzvah Man Foundation not knowing if they would be able to help her.
“I’m a saleslady and am experiencing severe hearing loss. I cannot properly serve my customers because of my hearing issues! I am afraid of losing my job. The hearing loss is disrupting my life. However, I don’t want to take money from the organization. I will be happy with refurbished hearing aids and would be able to pay something for them.”
The Mitzvah Man volunteer told Sharon that they usually do not provide hearing aids. However, he would send out a text to all the volunteers with a request for refurbished hearing aids. One volunteer responded. He was sure that he would be the messenger to fulfill this mitzvah. “This must be a sign from Hashem!” he exclaimed.
Hayim, the volunteer, explained that he has a business selling on the internet. He looks at various new items to sell but always tests them first. Recently Hayim evaluated hearing aids and was extremely impressed with their efficiency. Hayim recently ordered hearing aids to sell. He would be more than happy to fulfill Sharon’s request for a brand-new pair of hearing aids free of charge, not refurbished.
These hearing aids were certain to change Sharon’s life for the better. Sharon was overjoyed when she learned that she would get the hearing aids. Being able to hear well would give her a new lease on life.
Unfortunately, Hayim’s business deal fell through, but others saw the post for refurbished hearing aids, and a pair of refurbished hearing aids was located. Baruch Hashem, Sharon was able to have her sense of hearing restored.
A Second Call for Hearing Aids
Another call came in in response to the original post.
“My daughter Frieda is 16 years old. She is deaf in both ears. After a certain age, our insurance does not cover the cost of the hearing aids she so desperately needs. She wants to live a normal life, have friends, date, marry, and have a family! Instead, she is living in a world of silence. Is there something that you can do for her? Frieda requires specific, expensive hearing aids, $6,000, to be exact.”
When the Mitzvah Man spoke to Frieda’s mother, he really did not know what he would do, but assured her that he would try his best.
First, he turned to Hashem. Then he remembered that years ago one of his friends who was a regular donor had told him that if he ever needed a large donation, do not hesitate to call. The Mitzvah Man volunteers had put tefillin on this man’s ailing father, and the man wanted to do something special for the organization.
Immediately, the Mitzvah Man picked up the phone to call his friend. “Joe, do you remember the time you told me to ask when I need a sizeable donation for one of our cases? We need $6,000 to buy special hearing aids for a 16-year-old girl.”
“I’m in,” Joe answered. “Just tell me where to send the check!”
Within a week Frieda had her hearing aids and a new life!
The Mitzvah Man stated, “We often take our senses for granted. The sense of hearing, just like the sense of sight, helps us to be a part of the world around us, to be with family and friends, and to enjoy life cycle celebrations. Baruch Hashem, we were able to help this teenager who is so happy with a bright present, and B’ezrat Hashem an even brighter future. Tizkeh l’mitzvot to the donor of the hearing aids. He made a tremendous difference in another person’s life.”
To most people, a hearing aid seems to be such a small item. To Sharon and Frieda, however, a hearing aid means the world.