How Can We Help?
The East Tennessee Kidney Foundation, Inc.™ focuses on directly improving the lives of patients suffering from kidney disease. We offer three ongoing programs throughout the year. Below is a summary of programs available. For further information or questions on how we can help you or your loved ones, please call our office at 865-288-7351.
Dianne Hagey Dialysis Transportation Program
The Dialysis Transportation Program provides financial assistance to help patients reach their life-saving dialysis treatments. The program works by reimbursing the patient for the expenses incurred while traveling to and from dialysis treatments. Patients can apply directly through their dialysis clinic social worker. A portion of this program is provided by grants from various United Ways in East Tennessee.
Dialysis Transportation Program Packet
May and June 2023 Reimbursement Reports
July 2024-June 2025 Application
July 2024-June 2025 Reimbursement
Dental Assistance Program
The Dental Assistance Program provides low-cost dental work for dialysis patients whose last barrier to placement on the kidney transplant waiting list is dental work. A clean bill of health, including dental health, is required in order to be placed on the kidney transplant waiting list. Patients are referred by the University of Tennessee Center for Transplant Services.
Nutritional Supplement Program
The Nutritional Supplement Program provides free nutritional supplements to dialysis patients in 25 East Tennessee counties. This program is made possible by an annual grant from the Akima Club of Knoxville.
Nutritional supplements vary but are typically in the form of high-protein bars such as Pure Protein. In April 2023, ETKF distributed Pure Protein bars to area dialysis clinics and they will reach into 25 East Tennessee Counties!
Outreach & Education
We participate in many local health fairs and provide education about chronic kidney disease.
You may find us at the following places throughout the East Tennessee Community:
- Kidney Health Education in Senior Centers across East Tennessee including Knoxville, Morristown, and Jefferson City
- Dollywood Employee Health Fair, annually in Pigeon Forge, Sevier County
- Healthy Living Expo, annually in Knoxville, Knox County
- Workplace Employee Health Fairs such as Keurig Green Mountain and Pepsi Bottling Company in Knox County, Blount Memorial Hospital in Blount County, and Oak Ridge National Laboratories in Anderson County
- Community Resource Fairs such as The 100 Black Men of Greater Knoxville’s Health Fair, annually at John T. O’Connor Senior Citizen’s Center in Knox County; Roane County Community College in Roane County; Knox County Community Family Health Fair (KFHF), annually at Vine Middle School in Knox County; and Women’s Healthy Choices Awareness Expo (WHCAE), hosted by Deltas of Oak Ridge (DOOR), in partnership with the Oak Ridge Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., annually at Y-12’s New Hope Center in Anderson County.
- United Way Events such as Dodgeball Y’all Tournament, annually in Knox County; Locopalooza, annually in Loudon County; Campaign Kickoff Events
- Speaking Engagements at places such as StandardAero in Blount County, First Tennessee Bank and Senior Citizens Home Assistance Services (SCHAS)
Contact us if you need a kidney health organization to provide information or services at your health event.
