Dialysis Advocates for Patients

Hi
My name is Tabitha I am a Co-founder of Non-profit organization called Salem Dialysis Advocate for Patients. In the future will drop Salem. I want to tell you about my organization. We are just starting out. There is a much-needed help for dialysis patients. A lot of them are on disability or just barley making it from working, not just financial issues, there so many emotions that people go through when on dialysis, not only that there is social issues. Being on dialysis myself I see first hand what they go through and can relate to their needs.
Once we get exempt, we will be going after grants and doing fundraisers and hopefully getting sponsors. Some of the programs that we want to have are,

Food: Right now we are in the process of putting an actual food bank in to the centers. This makes it easier on patients, so many can’t get to food banks, and they don’t always have food for our dietary needs. I don’t just want to have shelf food I want to expand it so that the food bank will include fresh meat, produce and fruits. So many of us can’t always afford these items or at least keep them in our house from pay to pay day. We are meeting with the county food Bank on The 11th to see what they can do to help.

Rent/Mortgage, Sometimes for one reason or another people get behind, or their rent goes up and they can’t afford to move or pay the difference. We hope to be able to help with moving, or finding a better place for them, or make sure they don’t loose their house.

Utilities: We all know the cost of heating in the winter can just knock us over. We want to be able to help people who may need help paying for electric, gas, and water.

Transportation: Now this is a big issue here, this will include paying for public transportation to major car repairs, and gas.

Life Enrichment this is helping people have fun, for example giving them certificates to go to dinner at there favorite place, to seeing a movie, or maybe bowling and bingo. The point is to help people get out of their house and live a little; show there is life to be lived. This will also include parties we have at the center, encouraging participation; we feel if you feel mentally good, your attitude will be good.

Support groups, for caregivers and dialysis patients. We hope to have counseling for those who need it.

Household: this will include everything from furniture to appliances, dishes, bedding and so on.

I think that covered most of the programs we want to have, I am sure as time goes on people will give us there in put and tell us what they want to see and we will add it in.

Here is our mission of statement

Salem Dialysis Advocates for Patients
Mission Statement

For years the well being, safety, and financial security of dialysis patients have been under met and under funded. Several years ago the National Kidney Foundation for the Northwest had to close their office. We created the Salem Dialysis Advocates for Patients Organization; we stepped in with much concern and with a great endowment of passion for the support of dialysis patients.

Our purpose is to provide support services for dialysis clinics; like a safety net. To meet any need or issue that can’t be met by the clinic due to financial or time limitations.

Furthermore, we believe that each patient shall have a better outcome with the proper support and it is of the utmost importance to our organization to help foster a positive outcome for each patient.

If anyone has any knowledge of fundraising or where to go as far as go after grants, and creating a web site. I would love to hear from you. Advise, feed back even ideas are always welcome!

If your from Salem or near the Salem area and want to get involved let me know, if your interested in trying to help your own center, I be happy to help and any way I can no matter where your located at.

If I can answer any questions feel free to ask, I will keep you posted as we progress with the organization.[/color]