Other Ways to Help: Non-Profit Organizations

 

You can help not only me, but millions of other Americans who have chronic kidney disease by supporting non-profit organizations. While no organization can survive without funding, supporting an organization need not be limited to monetary contributions. Here a few of many worthy organizations and various means my which you can support them:

 

The National Kidney Foundation provides numerous avenues for support, from fund-raising walks to office projects, golf tournaments, and fresh-flower orders. You can even make a $5.00 instant donation by texting “kidney” to 50555.

 

You can donate clothing, household goods, books, toys—just about anything you can think of—to your local Kidney Foundation resale store. In Columbus and many other cities, the Foundation will even pick up donations at your door and leave a receipt. (Donations are tax-deductible.) Thrift-store shoppers can help by patronizing these stores.

 

You can even donate your used car to Kidney Cars, a division of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) or to Donate-A-Car, which supports the American Kidney Fund and other charitable organizations. NKF donations support patient and community services, educational programs, research, and patient advocacy activities. I can personally vouch for the enormous good the NKF does, as I have benefitted a great deal from their services. The American Kidney Fund, an equally worthy organization, provides financial assistance to eligible patients in need. 

 

You can support the National Kidney Foundation, Lifeline of Ohio,or similar groups. These and other organizations have been very helpful in my own personal journey. They have provided print and media publications, support contacts, and kidney-friendly recipes, to name just a few.

 

You can locate many worthwhile organizations by typing key words such as "living donation" or "kidney donation" into your browser's search bar. If you’d like to check out an organization’s track record, Charity Navigator is an excellent evaluation site. Incidentally, the National Kidney Foundation Serving Ohio earned a 4-star [out of 4] rating from Charity Navigator.

NEXT

 

 

Dedicated Dad: Jake Garn, the first sitting member of Congress to fly in space, interrupted his re-election campaign to donate a kidney to his daughter in 1986. "Her mother carried her for nine months, and I am honored to give her part of me," Garn said. Click here to read the story.