Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County’s Department of Motor Vehicles is partnering with LiveOnNY to encourage more people to become organ donors on Wednesday, October 10th, in honor of Organ Donor Enrollment Day.
Representatives from LiveOnNY will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to answer any question about organ donation at the DMV’s Goshen office, which is located in the Government Center at 255 Main Street.
“The goal of this event is to help educate residents on how they can make a huge impact on other people’s lives by becoming an organ donor,” Orange County Clerk Annie Rabbitt said. “I invite them to visit with us, ask questions and complete a donor card. Organ donation saves lives and we are hoping to make a difference here in Orange County. You can register at DMV when you obtain or renew a driver’s license, at the Board of Elections office when you register to vote, or by going to the website www.nyhealth.gov/donatelife.”
According to LiveOnNY, New York ranks 50th in the nation in percent of residents who are registered organ donors. According to LiveOnNY, only 32 percent of New Yorkers are registered as organ donors, but more than 90 percent support organ donation. Organ Donor Enrollment Day is about turning that support into action by registering as many people as possible as lifesaving donors.
One organ donor can save up to eight lives and one tissue donor can improve the lives of up to 50 people. More than one million lifesaving and life-improving tissue and corneal transplants are performed each year. It only takes a few minutes to sign a donor form, and that decision can save a life. Anyone over the age of 16 can register to be a donor.
For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.
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