Across Minnesota, roughly 3,000 people are currently waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
“The folks spending time on dialysis are often not feeling well,” explained Julie Zamora, development manager with the National Kidney Foundation.
To bring comfort and hope to those navigating long treatment cycles, Old National Bank team members gathered in Maple Grove to pack care packages including comfort items like a water bottle, stress ball, and personal note of encouragement for local dialysis patients.
“The bags we are packing include some pick-me-ups and are just a really great way of letting folks know we are thinking of them, that we support them,” said Zamora.
The Maple Grove packing session on Sept. 17 was part of Old National Bank’s fifth annual Better Together Days event. Across four locations over two days, volunteers assembled 1,600 comfort bags that employees then hand-delivered to nearby dialysis treatment centers, hospitals, and kidney care clinics.
The effort marks a new initiative for the financial institution. “This is our first time partnering with the National Kidney Foundation,” said Katie Eastman, business banking relationship manager at Old National Bank. “We get as many team members together as we can for a two-day period and pack bags for something that we feel passionate about. It’s a way for us to step away and do something that matters in the community.”
The event also serves an educational purpose. Before the packing began, Zamora educated the group about kidney diseases. She told them one in three Americans is at risk for kidney disease, and 90% of those affected do not realize they have it. Because obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure are top risk factors, early screening through routine doctor visits is critical. Without early detection, many individuals only learn of their condition when immediate dialysis becomes necessary.
“Our mission is to educate people on kidney disease, how to detect it, and how to prevent the progression into needing dialysis or a transplant,” Zamora said. She added that community initiatives help spread awareness about living and deceased organ donation to reduce the transplant waiting list.
For Old National Bank, giving back is embedded in its corporate culture. The institution provides each employee with 24 hours of paid time off every year specifically for volunteer work. Across its 10-state footprint, Better Together Days brings cross-functional teams together to work alongside one another outside the typical office environment.
“Banks provide all the same products and services, so how do you differentiate yourself? You do it through your people,” said Julie McDonough, Old National Bank private banking president and Twin Cities market president. “People love a chance to spend time with colleagues outside of the office in a different environment, and it makes people feel good about the bigger picture.”
With more than 200 locations in Minnesota, Old National Bank continues to pair its commercial presence, including partnerships as the official bank of the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota State Fair, with hands-on local service.
“This is the bread and butter of what brings me joy,” Eastman said about the packing event. “And I can only assume team members feel the same way.”
