Man in need of dialysis receives medical aid

[okarol]

Man in need of dialysis receives medical aid
Staff Reports
Published Friday, December 30, 2011

Patrick was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and told that he needed to have a stint placed in order to receive dialysis.

Without private insurance, but not yet old enough to qualify for Medicare, Patrick was unable to pay for the stint.

A local agency referred Patrick to the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund, which provided $265 to help pay for his stint.

The purpose of the fund is to assist local people who cannot be reached by other charities or need more aid than those charities can provide. All recipients have been referred to the Empty Stocking Fund by area agencies.

Donors last year gave a record $60,943.88 to the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund and have contributed $47,979.60 to date this season.

A list of donors will appear Sundays in the Banner-Herald through New Year’s Day.

The Empty Stocking fundraising campaign is held during the holidays, but the money collected is not used for toys or gifts, and readers may donate throughout the year.

To donate: Send checks (payable to the Athens Banner-Herald Empty Stocking Fund) to the Athens Banner-Herald at P.O. Box 912, Athens, GA 30603.

Credit card donations may be made by logging on to the Athens Banner-Herald website — www.onlineathens.com — and following a link to the “Empty Stocking” donations page, or by calling the Banner-Herald at (706) 549-0123 and asking for the Empty Stocking Fund.

http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2011-12-30/man-need-dialysis-receives-medical-aid