Warren Center

BANGOR – Officials at the Warren Center for Communication and Learning hope to provide the gift of hearing to people in need through the Regional Hearing Aid Bank, but they need the help of those in the community.

The Regional Hearing Aid Bank provides refurbished behind-the-ear hearing aids for people who cannot otherwise afford them. The price of a hearing aid now starts at around $700 and may exceed $4,000 for high-end digital models. For many in need, the cost of even basic hearing aids is beyond reach.

The program addresses this need by making hearing aids and related support services available to qualified adults in eastern and central Maine.

Warren Center audiologist Dr. Amanda Samoluk thinks the program is essential.

“Often, those who cannot afford hearing aids are elderly people who live alone and they are too embarrassed by their hearing impairment to interact with other people,” Samoluk said.

The program is dependent on the donation of used hearing aids. Behind-the-ear models are refurbished, and as funds allow, placed with a needy individual from the center’s waiting list. In-the-ear aids, which cannot be reused, are sent to a recycling facility and the center receives a small monetary credit which goes to help cover costs of the program.

“It’s nice to see the changes when people come in for a follow-up,” said Samoluk. “One recipient told us that he can hear sounds he hasn’t heard in 20 years. These donations really do make a difference and have a direct impact on someone’s life.”

Hearing aids may be delivered or mailed to the Warren Center office at 175 Union St., Bangor, ME 04401.

To obtain more information, call the Warren Center at 941-2850, or TTY 941-2833.

Diabetes support group

BANGOR – St. Joseph Healthcare’s diabetes support group will feature guest speaker Georgia Clark-Albert of St. Joseph Healthcare’s Diabetes and Nutrition Center at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 2, Building 1, 900 Broadway. Her topic will be “Food Myths.”

The support group meets the first Thursday of each month for one hour. The group is open to individuals with diabetes and their family members. To obtain more information, call 262-1836.

Blood drives

BANGOR – The American Red Cross will hold public blood drives:

. 2-7 p.m. July 1, VFW Hall, 41 South Water St., Old Town.

. 12:45-6 p.m. July 8, St. Vincent de Paul Church, 158 Franklin St., Bucksport.

. Noon-5 p.m. July 13, Memorial Union, University of Maine.

. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. July 17, MASH drive at Bangor Civic Center.

Regular hours at the Bangor Donor Center, 900B Hammond St., are noon-7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month. For information, call 941-2900.

Pregnancy and infant loss

For those grieving the loss of a baby, the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group may help. Meetings are held 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Brown Conference Room, Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Topics will be:

July 7: The nature of grief and loss.

July 14: The spiritual side of grief.

July 21: Daily living with loss.

July 28: What’s ahead – looking toward the future.

For information, contact Kristen Gustafson at 973-6132.