A manually operable dispenser for dispensing disposable earplugs. The dispenser includes a housing, index body, and plate. The housing forms an opening for receiving earplugs from a container. The index body includes a handle, hub, guide cone and shield. The hub forms opposing major faces and a plurality of circumferentially arranged bores. The guide cone projects from the upper major face, tapering in diameter to a leading end. A base of the shield is disposed above the leading end opposite the upper major face. A wall of the shield projects radially outwardly to an edge having a diameter greater than a diameter of the leading end. The shield and the handle are rotationally affixed. The hub is rotatably mounted within the opening. The plate is connected to the housing and forms a dispensing aperture. A manually-applied rotational force at the handle selectively aligns individual ones of the bores with the dispensing aperture.