American Kidney Fund Expands Disaster Relief Assistance To Help Dialysis Patients In Louisiana Affected By Harvey

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nonprofit American Kidney Fund (AKF) has expanded its Disaster Relief Program to provide emergency funds to help Louisiana dialysis patients who have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. AKF announced last week that it had activated the program to help Texas dialysis patients.

Any Louisiana or Texas dialysis patient affected by the storm 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. The Disaster Relief Program provides emergency assistance to dialysis patients to help them replace medications, food and household items, and pay for essentials such as the cost of fuel or transportation to medical appointments.

Several organizations and corporations, including the Amgen Foundation, American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and OPKO Health, have already pledged generous contributions to AKF's Disaster Relief Program, helping to ensure that the program is adequately funded to meet escalating demand for financial assistance from this catastrophic storm.

AKF is accepting contributions from the public for its Disaster Relief Program, with 100 percent of charitable donations received going directly to dialysis patients affected by Harvey. To donate, visit KidneyFund.org/disaster-relief.

"We have been hearing from patients in the affected areas who are in a dire situation with the extensive flooding and closures of dialysis centers, and we are working to get grants out as quickly as possible," said LaVarne A. Burton, president and chief executive officer of the American Kidney Fund. "We are deeply grateful to the Amgen Foundation, ASN and OPKO, and to the many individuals who are contributing to our Disaster Relief Program for Hurricane Harvey so that we can help every dialysis patients who needs our assistance."

Reports from patients who have been contacting AKF by phone and through social media indicate a worsening situation. Many patients have already missed life-sustaining dialysis treatments and are having difficulty finding clinics that can accommodate them, compounded by the difficulty of traveling around the flooded areas. AKF is answering patient questions, providing resources on its Kidney Today blog and social media channels, and working with the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) coalition to meet patients' needs.

AKF's Disaster Relief Program has provided critically needed assistance to dialysis patients for many years, helping people in the aftermath of the nation's most devastating disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, Sandy, Matthew and many more.

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. AKF holds the highest ratings from the nation's charity watchdog groups, including Charity Navigator, which includes AKF on its "top 10" list of nonprofits with the longest track records of outstanding stewardship of the donated dollar.

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