As Hurricane Harvey Bears Down On Gulf Coast, American Kidney Fund Opens Disaster Relief Program For Texas Dialysis Patients Affected By Storm

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nonprofit American Kidney Fund (AKF) has activated its Disaster Relief Program to provide emergency funds to help Texas dialysis patients whose homes or clinics are affected by Hurricane Harvey and the expected catastrophic flooding.

Any Texas dialysis patient affected by Hurricane Harvey who needs an AKF emergency grant should contact a social worker at their dialysis center for information on applying, or call the American Kidney Fund directly at 1.800.795.3226.

In Texas, more than 45,000 patients depend on dialysis treatments to stay alive, including more than 10,000 in Greater Houston alone. AKF's Disaster Relief Program is a rapid-response system that provides emergency assistance to dialysis patients when disaster strikes their communities. These funds help patients replace medications, food and household items, and pay for essentials such as the cost of fuel or transportation to medical appointments.  

"We know that for dialysis patients, preparing for a severe weather event like Hurricane Harvey adds financial burdens on top of the challenges of staying safe and ensuring continuity of their life-sustaining treatments," said LaVarne A. Burton, president and chief executive officer of the American Kidney Fund. "Our Disaster Relief grants provide assistance when it is needed most and helps alleviate some of patients' financial concerns at this stressful time."

In 2016, AKF provided over $113,000 in Disaster Relief grants to dialysis patients in Louisiana, Texas, the Carolinas and West Virginia who were affected by severe flooding. AKF's largest disaster relief effort occurred after Hurricane Katrina, when more than 5,100 dialysis patients in 12 states received emergency assistance totaling over $260,000 from AKF, thanks to generous donations from individuals and corporations.

To make a contribution to the American Kidney Fund's Disaster Relief Program to assist kidney patients affected by the recent floods, as well as to assist patients affected by future disasters, visit KidneyFund.org/disaster-relief.

About the American Kidney Fund

As the nation's leading nonprofit working on behalf of the 30 million Americans with kidney disease, the American Kidney Fund is dedicated to ensuring that every kidney patient has access to health care, and that every person at risk for kidney disease is empowered to prevent it. AKF provides a complete spectrum of programs and services: prevention outreach, top-rated health educational resources, and direct financial assistance enabling 1 in 5 U.S. dialysis patients to access lifesaving medical care, including dialysis and transplantation.

For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

SOURCE American Kidney Fund

Related Links

http://www.kidneyfund.org