Office of the Mayor
WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND
Mayor Baldelli-Hunt and Organ Donation Beneficiaries Commemorate National Organ Donation Month at Harris Hall on Thursday, April 20, at 10:30 AM
WOONSOCKET, R.I.: Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt announced that she will join representatives from New England Donor Services, local and state officials, and nearby individuals whose lives were touched and enhanced by organ donation, to commemorate April as National Organ Donation Month. The event will be held in
Harris Hall on Thursday, April 20 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Participants and the public will be encouraged to register as an organ and/or tissue donor either at this event, 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 for organ donation at the event.
Mayor Baldelli-Hunt exclaimed, "Organ donation is a selfless decision that saves lives and gives new hope to many individuals and families. I encourage all members of the Woonsocket community to attend this event and learn how you can be a hero to someone in need by opening your hearts and signing up to be an organ or tissue donor." The Mayor then thanked Woonsocket resident Georgetta Gassey and Matt Boger of New England Donor Services for helping to organize the event.
In 2022, a total of 1,325 lives in New England were saved through organ donation, with thousands more who had their lives and health enhanced either through an organ or tissue donation. With the need for life-saving transplants growing every day - over 106,000 patients are now on the US transplant wait list - it is critical that all know the importance of organ donation, and how to go about doing it.
At this event, participants will learn the differences between deceased organ donation and living organ and tissue donation. The most common, deceased donation occurs at the time of a donor’s death. Living donation occurs when someone who is still alive donates organs or tissues such as liver, kidneys, bone marrow or skin to another person. Living donors need 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 an important role in the donation process as most individuals in Rhode Island who register as an organ and tissue donor 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 please contact Matt Boger ~ 617-780-6249 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
