KU News Release

Recycled sounds sought to sustain KU’s Audio-Reader

LAWRENCE — Technology is constantly evolving, but that doesn’t mean old audio goods are worthless.

Recycled music and sound gadgets are worth a fortune to Audio-Reader, a University of Kansas-based reading service for the blind and visually impaired, as it prepares for its annual fall fundraiser “For Your Ears Only.”

A donation drive for items to sell at the fundraiser will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 19, in the parking lot in front of Jayhawk Central on KU’s Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Road, Overland Park. A second donation drive will be at Hy-Vee, 4000 W. Sixth St. in Lawrence, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 28.

Audio-Reader staff and volunteers will be on hand at both donation drives to help unload items. The first 20 people who stop by with a donation will receive a free Audio-Reader coffee mug or a bowl made from a recycled record album. Advance discount tickets to the opening night of “For Your Ears Only” on Sept. 21 will also be available for purchase.

Janet Campbell, director of Audio-Reader, said “For Your Ears Only” raises about $10,000 for the service each year, but success depends on receiving thousands of donated CDs, record albums, stereos, turntables and other new and gently used audio goods from the community.

“If you have record albums or CDs gathering dust at home, this is great incentive to share your music and audio equipment with a worthwhile cause,” Campbell said.

Donations will also be accepted at Audio-Reader, 1120 W. 11th St., Lawrence; Kief’s AudioVideo, 2429 Iowa St., Lawrence; Sears, 2727 Iowa St., Lawrence; or KCUR 89.3 FM, 4825 Troost, Suite 202, Kansas City, Mo.

Audio-Reader relies on a blend of volunteer voices and advanced technology to provide reading services to the blind and print-disabled throughout Kansas and western Missouri. A major expense in Audio-Reader’s annual budget is technology upgrades to provide high-quality broadcasts and recordings of current newspapers, books, magazines and other printed materials.

For more information, call (800) 772-8898 or visit the Audio-Reader Web site. Audio-Reader’s services are available free of charge to anyone who has difficulty reading printed materials.

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