Niagara County raises flag for Donate Life Month

Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Rebecca Wydysh and Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski were joined by Sarah Diina of ConnectLife to raise the ConnectLife flag outside the Niagara County Courthouse in recognition of April as National Donate Life Month.

The county said, “During this month, we honor those who have saved lives through the gift of a donation and encourage others to consider registering as organ, eye and tissue donors.”

Wydysh said, “ConnectLife is WNY’s only organ, eye, tissue and community blood center, so it was fitting that Sarah Diina joined Clerk Jastrzemski and me as we kicked off Donate Life Month. There are more than 100,000 women, men and children waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, including 8,500 people in New York state, and every nine minutes another person is added to the national transplant waiting list. Every April, we try to do our best to raise awareness of this issue and ask the public to please consider registering to be a donor.”

Jastrzemski said residents can sign up to be organ donors by visiting the state registry at https://donatelife.ny.gov/ or at a Department of Motor Vehicles office when replacing, renewing or upgrading their driver's license or non-driver identification.

“The fact is that one organ, eye and tissue donor can save and heal more than 75 lives,” Jastrzemski said. “That’s why I became an organ donor years ago and, today, more than 51% of all licensed drivers in Niagara County are signed up to be organ donors. If you are not, please know it’s never been easier to register – and your decision could have a lasting impact for generations.”