American Kidney Fund Activates Disaster Relief Program to Support Dialysis and Post-Transplant Patients Affected by New Mexico Wildfires

ROCKVILLE, Md. (May 13, 2022) — The American Kidney Fund (AKF) has activated its Disaster Relief Program to provide emergency grants to dialysis and post-transplant patients impacted by wildfires in New Mexico that have scorched through more than 250,000 acres, causing mandatory evacuations in at least four counties. AKF's Disaster Relief Program is the nation's only rapid-response system that provides emergency financial assistance to dialysis and recent transplant patients.

"Our thoughts are with all those who have had to flee their homes due to the wildfires that continue to burn in New Mexico. We stand ready to assist people on dialysis and post-transplant patients with financial aid from the American Kidney Fund's Disaster Relief Program," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. "These grants provide timely aid during moments of crisis and will help ease the financial burden faced by so many who experience a major natural disaster."

Emergency grants of $250 are being made available for dialysis and post-transplant patients who live within 50 miles of an active wildfire. Disaster relief grants from AKF help patients replace lost medications and special renal diet foods, pay for temporary housing and transportation to treatment, and replace clothing and personal essentials lost due to the natural disaster or the need to evacuate without notice.

AKF has been providing emergency disaster financial assistance to kidney patients throughout all the major disasters that have struck the United States and its territories for the past two decades. Last year, AKF allocated $480,500 to more than 2,300 dialysis and post-transplant patients during the Texas winter storm crisis and in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida and the December 2021 tornadoes.

Dialysis and recent kidney transplant patients who need emergency financial help should contact a social worker at their dialysis or transplant clinic for information on applying for aid or apply directly at gms.KidneyFund.org.