What sort of activities do you do with your local NKF?

[Bassetmommer]

I am looking for ideas to share and then offer myself as a volunteer to our local chapter. Does anyone here volunteer as a kidney volunteer for your area and if so, what do you do?

[Hidden]

While I haven't gone looking for this, I have been approached by a few local groups to speak at meetings with others new to CKD. I just give them information on how to do research on CKD, where to get information on CKD including medications for other health issues, kidney-friendly meals, understanding labs, putting together a Care Team and the expectations for everyone involved.

I don't speak about just one organization (NKF) or another. I give out a list of the ones I've found helpful over the last couple of years (almost) and hand those out, along with websites and hotlines when available, but I don't offer any opinions on any of them. I leave that up to the individual.

I was asked about this one day by one of my doctor's nurses. She asked if I would talk to a group of folks who were just told or suspected that they might have CKD and share with them information on how to get started. Each group has been about 4-6 people and I've done it a few times. I get asked a lot of questions and always refer them back to their doctor or to the websites I provide on the handout. Most of the time they are hungry for information and are unable to get started on being proactive. On top of my handout is the information on the Kidney Smart class so they can get information from kidney trained professionals.

Many of them are not computer literate and the toll-free numbers are important for them to make the initial contacts. I don't do any follow-ups. The handout and answering some basic questions is as far as I go.

[Charlene_Coxhead]

Hi Jane

What a wonderful idea to try and give back to people that have helped you and wanting to help others.

I volunteered at the British transplant games last year and have will be helping at the World Transplant games which are being held in Newcastle this year and again the British ones.

I've also spoken a couple of times to small groups of people newly diagnosed at my local and main unit. I'm based in the UK.

I would love to get more involved to show people CKD doe not need to divine us. I too would love to give more back and help people in anyway possible. At the moment it's only on health unlock that I'm trying to offer support with sharing my story.

[kungfudude]

My volunteering was more simple. We had a golf tournament fund raiser. My job was to call some of the former donors and players to get their participation once again.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

When I was still living in WI there was an active NKF chapter in the Milwaukee area. I became a volunteer and they had a local mentor program. As a mentor I visited with those in end stage kidney failure. NKFWI had a "Kidney Walk" every year and needed a lot of volunteers to help set up, etc.

There was also a Donor Network of WI. At every event in the area, including the 10-day State Fair, they would have a booth and needed people handing out brochures regarding organ donation, etc. I had also received speaker training. The Donor Network organized speaking engagements at high schools, etc. Each time there was a donor family member, a transplant recipient and someone from the Donor Network. It was a fantastic experience and I really felt like I was giving back.

I was looking for something similar here in WY. We moved here 2 years ago. The problem here is there is no transplant center in the state. The population of this state is also so small, only about 500,000. There are some volunteer opportunities for WY Donor organization but it is throughout the state. I concentrate on volunteering here in my home town only.

Good luck. I am sure there is a local chapter where you live.