ORGAN DONORS SAVE LIVES
Mayor Christopher Beauchamp Announces Event to Increase Awareness of Organ and Tissue Donations at Harris Hall on Monday, April 22, at 10:00 AM
WOONSOCKET, R.I.: Mayor Christopher Beauchamp announced that he will join representatives from New England Donor Services, local officials, and nearby individuals impacted by organ donation to commemorate April as National Organ Donation Month.
The event aims to raise awareness about the life-saving importance of organ and tissue donation, honor those donors who have changed lives, and encourage new donor registrations. The event will be held in Harris Hall on Monday, April 22nd, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
The event will encourage participants to register as organ and/or tissue donors, either at this event itself, or later at the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles when receiving or renewing a driver’s license, Real ID, or ID. The event will feature two gift card raffles, one for individuals whose driver’s license indicates existing organ donor participation and one for individuals who sign up to be an organ donor at the event.
Mayor Beauchamp exclaimed, “Organ and tissue donors are true heroes who have saved or enhanced countless lives in our community and given new hope to them and their families. There is a vital need for more donors, and I encourage all Woonsocket residents to attend this event and learn how you can help someone in need by signing up to be an organ or tissue donor.”
The Mayor expressed gratitude to Woonsocket resident Georgetta Gassey and Matt Boger of New England Donor Services for organizing this informative, rewarding, and life-changing event.
At the event, participants will learn about the differences between deceased organdonation and living organ and tissue donation. Deceased donation occurs at the time of a donor’s death while living donation occurs when someone still alive donates organs or tissues such as liver, kidneys, bone marrow, or skin to another person. Living donors are required to be between the ages of 18 – 60 years old and are often spouses, family members, friends, or someone who wants to help someone else in need.
The State plays a key role in the donation process as most individuals in Rhode Island who register as organ and tissue donors do so at the State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To register to be a donor outside the DMV office or for more information visit www.RegisterMe.org
New England Donor Services is a federally designated, non-profit Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) responsible for the surgical recovery of organs and tissues for transplant in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and throughout the New England region. For further information about organ or tissue donation, please contact Matt Boger, at 617- 780-6249 or matt_boger@neds.org
