Firm’s aid in relocating equipment a sound move

Health-care company helps speech center

Pam Myers is the executive director of Toledo Hearing and Speech Center.

It’s only the size of about three phone booths, but for many children, the pediatric audiometric test booth is a necessary tool in their journey of speech and hearing development.

So when the Toledo Hearing and Speech Center was looking to move locations, it wasn’t a piece of equipment they wanted to leave behind. But it was an expensive endeavor to haul it along.

With the help of funding from Buckeye Community Health Plan, the nonprofit hearing-and-speech center was able to move the test booth to its new location at 4841 Monroe St. That means children will continue to be offered complete diagnostic hearing tests that started back up Monday, when the center held its grand reopening.

“A sound booth is something that people who are in the industry have to do the moving. It weighs about a ton, it has to be taken apart and then reassembled,” said Pam Myers, executive director of Toledo Hearing and Speech Center. “We found out it was going to cost over $3,000 to move this booth, so we weren’t sure if we could continue to offer this service.”

The Toledo Hearing and Speech Center provides “rehabilitative services for individuals living with communications disorders.” As a nonprofit, the center’s mission is to provide service to everyone regardless of their ability to pay, Ms. Myers said.

To help with their own expenses, center officials decided to move from the former Central Avenue location to save on rent. That meant there was little left over for expensive moving costs.

Ms. Myers said she reached out to Buckeye Community Health Plan to see if they were interested in helping. The health-care company stepped in with a $3,700 donation.

“We are thrilled to be able to help out by donating the money necessary for this relocation,” said Steve White, chief executive officer of Buckeye Community Health Plan in a statement. “Buckeye has a long-standing relationship with the center and we understand the value of the services it provides to area residents. ... We are very pleased that we can contribute the funds to help the children of the area have access to this service.”

Piece by piece, the booth was transported to its new location that officially opened its doors Monday. So while clients are now going to a new location, they will not see any difference in service, Ms. Myers said.

“We are facing a time when funding has been cut, which affects all operations. Relocating from West Central Avenue to Monroe Street is one way we can help stay afloat, and Buckeye Community Health Plan’s donation means we can continue to serve children,” Ms. Myers said.

Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.