The Kidney Foundation has been distributing socks to dialysis patients around the province as part of its Warm the Sole Campaign.
The foundation was selected as one of Aviva Community Fund’s Small Ideas winners and received $10,000 to purchase socks for every dialysis patient in the province.
A total of 3,300 pairs of socks were purchased for dialysis patients around the province.
“One of the many ways that the Kidney Foundation supports kidney patients is by providing comfort items,” said Pia Schindler, executive director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, B.C. and Yukon Branch.
“We know patients undergoing dialysis endure many side effects, one being that their feet can often get cold.”
Lois Neufeld, nurse manager at the dialysis unit at the Penticton Regional Hospital, said the socks serve as a morale boost for the patients.
“It makes them feel better to be warm,” she said.
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Dialysis patients at the hospital are at the unit three times a week for four hours at a time.
“It impacts your whole life if you’re coming in here three times a week,” she said.
There are 12 beds in the dialysis unit, allowing the unit to treat up to 24 people each day.
Neufeld said dialysis patients can also learn to do home dialysis, allowing them to take care of the procedure away from the hospital.
Colm Holmes, president and CEO of Aviva Canada said the Aviva Community Fund provides funding for local programs.
“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, under the theme of bringing people together, we couldn’t be more proud to support ideas — big and small — that will have a lasting impact in their communities,” he said.
Kidney Foundation volunteers and staff are delivering the socks to dialysis units around the province. They were at the Penticton Regional Hospital’s unit on Friday.
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