To Make a Donation, Call our Toll Free:
1-800-414-3484
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If your drawers are overflowing and your closets are in chaos, it might be time to consider a donation to Kidney Clothes. We will turn your used clothing donation into much needed funds for kidney research and educational programs that help fight kidney disease.
Kidney Clothes invites you to donate all cloth-based items including:
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- all used clothing
- footwear and outerwear
- belts, ties and purses
- yarn, fabric and patterns
- blankets, bedding and linens
- draperies, pillows and cushions
- luggage and sleeping bags
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News
Meet Michael Linley, a kidney transplant recipient and member of the Kidney Clothes Sault Ste. Marie team.
No one is ever prepared to learn they have kidney disease. Michael was only 17 when a routine checkup revealed trace amounts of protein in his urine. That finding eventually led to a diagnosis of IgA Nephropathy or Berger’s Disease, a type of kidney disease. Over the next five years, Michael’s kidney function slowly but steadily declined. He was forced to start dialysis when he was 22 years old.
While on dialysis, Michael’s life was put on hold. He says that while the physical side effects of the disease are tough, his biggest struggle was dealing with the mental stress. He describes friends and people around him as “living life regularly, buying houses, getting engaged, having babies, travelling, and here I was stuck spending a good amount of time at the hospital or at home because I was too sick to go anywhere.” He says, “the feeling of living without moving forward” was one of the hardest things to deal with.
Along with his healthcare team, Michael began searching for a potential kidney donor. His mother asked to be the first tested. Michael says, “Her instinct to take care of her family is beyond comprehension and her heart is one of the biggest.”
It took many tests, including checking blood types, tissue types, and even the size of the new kidney to see if it would fit properly to confirm that his mother was a match. After a year and a half of living on dialysis, Michael got a long-awaited phone call. They had a transplant date!
On June 21 2017, Michael received his new kidney. The transplant was a success and both he and his mother are now feeling great. One of the most exciting aspects of life post-transplant for Michael is knowing that he will be able to get back to playing hockey and “enjoy the sport I love again.”
As a member of the Kidney Clothes team in Sault Ste. Marie, Michael spends time visiting local elementary schools to share his story with students and help educate them about both kidney disease and the work of Kidney Clothes, which collects used clothing and textiles to help raise funds to assist the 1 in 10 Canadians living with kidney disease.
Michael is looking forward to a better future and he has some advice for other’s living with kidney disease. “You’re not alone fighting this fight,” he says. “Do your best to surround yourself in positivity and motivation. Get out there and be active as best as you can. Don’t let your mind make you afraid of the “what if’s” and most importantly, live like you aren’t even sick.”
He adds, “Never let your kidney disease define you as an individual. You live with it, not under it.”
Every year, North Americans throw away tonnes of clothing and textiles, clogging landfills with reusable goods. In fact, clothing and textiles represents one of the most common material found in the Peel Region waste system.
To make it easier to reuse or recycle unwanted clothing, Peel Region is partnering with Kidney Clothes to pilot curb side pickup at selected homes. Homeowners in the selected pilot area will receive one clear bag in advance of the pickup on June 6th and 7th to make donations a breeze.
The average North American throws away 81lbs. of clothing annually. Collecting this clothing and other textiles for repurposing will help the Region reach its goal of diverting waste from landfills. Ninety-five percent of clothing thrown away can be reused or repurposed, making a significant impact on the environment.
Since 2012, Kidney Clothes has been diverting textiles and repurposing them into funds to support people in the region and across Canada living with kidney disease. Last year, over 12 million pounds of clothing and household goods were repurposed to provide hope and support for the 1 in 10 Canadians who live with kidney disease.
Learn more about the Peel Pilot
Kidney Clothes Salutes Fundraising Partners
We think we have the most amazing fundraising partners. Last fall, we encouraged our not-for-profit partners to host a clothing drive and share a brief video about their experience. The results were amazing, and we are pleased to share two of the winning entries. Congratulations!
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Kidney Clothes is a trust that raises funds in support of The Kidney Foundation of Canada.