Chicago – October 14, 2026 -- Beltone's third annual Hear2End Hunger Food Drive collected 20,640 non-perishable food items in September for local food banks and hunger-relief organizations across the United States. The total beat the 20,000-item goal and is more than 41% higher than the 2025 haul.
Nearly 40,000 items have been donated since 2024
The month-long drive ran during Hunger Action Month and is organized through Beltone Hearing Centers. Collections have grown every year since the program launched in 2024. Hearing care professionals, patients and neighbors all contributed.
Beltone Hearing President David Molella said the effort began as a way for the centers to give back and has become "truly special."
Three hearing centers earn extra donations for local groups
The Beltone Foundation is adding $4,500 in donations to recognize the three centers that collected the most food:
- Uniontown, Pennsylvania: 6,927 items, the most nationwide. The center will present a $3,000 donation to Fayette County Community Action Food Bank.
- Visalia, California: 1,353 items, with a $1,000 donation going to Bethlehem Center.
- Warsaw, Indiana: 865 items, with a $500 donation going to Combined Community Services.
Representatives from each center will hand over the Foundation's donation to the local organization in person.
A fourth drive is planned for 2027
Beltone plans to bring hearing centers and their communities together again in 2027 for the fourth year of Hear2End Hunger.