Feed Your Kidneys
During the month of September, ANNA will provide 20 chapters with funding to make a donation to the food bank of their choice. Each chapter will receive $1,000 in donation funding and will be also be asked to coordinate a volunteer activity that includes the chapter members.
Nephrology Nurses Week will be celebrated on September 8-14, 2024 and September is also Hunger Action Month. Chapters may select any local food bank/pantry for their donation.
Objective
Give back in a substantial way through local communities while planning a meaningful and organized activities to engage as many members as possible.
Select a Food Bank
To participate in the program, first identify the food bank/pantry you want to work with. If you don’t already have a relationship with a food bank we suggest searching through Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs that provides food and services to people each year. Chapters must apply to participate in this program by July 15. Selected chapters will be notified by August 1. Chapters that are not selected to receive a donation check may still donate time to the food bank/pantry of their choice.
The Feed Your Kidneys Application and Selection Process for Donations
1. Identify a food bank for your donation The Feeding America website makes it easy to find local food banks and identifies established food bank programs. However, some chapters have worked with local or church based programs due to connections established by chapter members or patients. Any program that provides food to those in need will be considered.
2. Create an opportunity for members to interact with the food bank.
- Contact the food bank/pantry you want to work with and ask how you and your members can be involved. You may want to contact several food banks since their needs will vary. Larger food banks often have website signups for volunteers and multiple opportunities to help. However, you may find that a donation to a very small program will make a larger impact and that volunteers will be used in ways that are vital to keeping their programs active. Make a few phone calls to food banks for information that will help you make a decision.
- Plan a work day with the food bank for any day in September. If possible, plan it during Nephrology Nurses Week, but any date in September is acceptable.
- The volunteer activity selected by your chapter will be the deciding factor for chapters who are chosen to receive $1,000 in funding. Preference will be given to those chapters that set a specific date to volunteer and a clearly identified activity with the potential to engage many members in the chapter.
3. Submit an application to ANNA by July 15.
- List the food bank/pantry of your choice
- Describe how your chapter will volunteer time and service to the food bank.
4. ANNA chapters present a $1,000 check to the food bank/pantry of their choice.
- Checks will be presented during Nephrology Nurses Week, September 8-14, 2024.