Articles    Bulletin Inserts

Each November, National Donor Sabbath presents a unique opportunity for faith organizations throughout the country to join together and reflect on the spirit of giving and the importance of organ and tissue donation as part of the spiritual journey.

Religious leaders and members of the faith community can participate in National Donor Sabbath in several ways:

Articles

We invite you to copy or edit the following informational articles for inclusion in your faith community bulletins or newsletters. Please visit Information & Resources for additional facts and statistics.

National Donor Sabbath: Give the Gift of Life

Organ and tissue donation and transplantation give life to those in need and inspire hope in those families whose loved ones have given the gift of life upon death. Recognizing that Organ and Tissue Donation is a part of one's spiritual journey, we will join communities of faith throughout the nation in honoring those whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation by observing National Donor Sabbath in November.

Every thirteen minutes, another person is added to the list of Americans waiting for life-saving organ transplants. Sadly, fifteen of these people will die each day, waiting. Over 1,700 people in Colorado and Wyoming wait, hoping for a decision that will give them, or their children, fathers, sons, daughters or mothers a second chance at a meaningful life. Many of these lives could be saved if more people agreed to be organ and tissue donors. As a single donor, you could possibly save or improve the quality of life for more than 100 others who suffer from organ failure, bone defects, burns or blindness.

Acts of justice, love and compassion define what it means to be a person of faith. Every human life is precious and is part of the human community that bestows and protects the life of its members. When life is understood to be a gift, we can give it to others through organ and tissue donation. Thus, we continue to exercise stewardship over the gift of our bodies by sharing, at the time of our death, those organs and tissues that can enhance the lives of others.

As we approach this season of thanksgiving, our observance of National Donor Sabbath is a time thank those who have registered to be donors and to those families whose loved ones have given the precious gift of life. We encourage everyone to make the choice to be an organ and tissue donor by placing your name on the Colorado Donor Registry -- www.ColoradoDonorRegistry.org or 888-256-4386 -- or by saying "Yes" to donation at the Driver's License Office.

For more information, please contact Donor Awareness Council at 303.388.8605.

The Colorado Donor Registry

Did you know that federal law gives each person the right to donate his or her organs and tissues after death? Now you have a way to ensure that your rights will be respected. In 2000, the Colorado State legislature created the Colorado Organ & Tissue Donor Registry, an electronic database that records your wishes officially and ensures they are known.

Each year organ donation saves hundreds of lives in Colorado and tissue donation helps thousands more Coloradoans walk, see and recover from severe burns and other injuries and illnesses. A single organ and tissue donor can help as many as 50 people in need.

When you say "yes" to donation, your wishes will be recorded in a computer system that can only be accessed by medical professionals at the time of your death. Colorado law prohibits the information from being sold for marketing purposes.

In 1968, Colorado law established the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, which recognized state driver's licenses and ID cards as a valid way to express a wish to be an organ and tissue donor. Many people have indicated this on their driver's license or ID card. Up until now, however, organ and tissue recovery agencies have had difficulty locating this information at the time of death. Since the donor registry was established, it is much easier for the recovery agencies to look up the person's information from a computer database and know what their wishes were.

Are you already on the Colorado Donor Registry? If you have a "Y" in the Donor field on your driver's license or ID card, or a "Y" in a red heart on the newer licenses, you're already in the registry. You do not need to enroll again; you will automatically be put into the registry.

In addition to registering to be an organ and tissue donor, letting your family know your wishes is still one of the best things you can do. A recent gallop poll done throughout the United States showed that 96% of all Americans agreed with organ and tissue donation. Less than 50% of the people polled are actually registered to be a donor, and less than 25% of these donors have told their families about their decision to become a donor. Help your family by letting them know your wishes.

For more information or to register to be an organ & tissue donor, please log on to www.ColoradoDonorRegistry.org or call 1-888-256-4386.

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Bulletin Inserts

Following are several inserts that can be added to your faith community bulletin.

• (Your religious organization) supports and encourages organ and tissue donation as the ultimate gift of one person to another. Take a moment to discuss organ and tissue donation with your family and join the Colorado Organ & Tissue Donor Registry. For more information, contact Donor Awareness Council at 888.388.8605 or www.Donor-Awareness.org.
  
  
• To think of others in our hours of grief and sorrow is truly compassionate and selfless. Please consider the gift of life -- organ and tissue donation. Our church supports this gift in the spirit of love and generosity. Remember to discuss your decision about organ donation with your family and join the Colorado Organ & Tissue Donor Registry. For more information, contact Donor Awareness Council at 888.388.8605 or www.Donor-Awareness.org.
  
  
• We all recognize the life-giving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Take a moment to discuss organ and tissue donation with your family and join the Colorado Organ & Tissue Donor Registry. For more information, contact Donor Awareness Council at 888.388.8605 or www.Donor-Awareness.org.
  
  
• Over 97,000 people nationwide currently wait for a life -saving organ transplant and hundreds of thousands are in need of life -enhancing tissue transplants. For many, the chance to live a full life won't come unless all of us consider organ and tissue donation. Discuss organ donation after worship with your family and friends. Help others find a chance to live a full life by joining the Colorado Organ & Tissue Donor Registry. For more information, contact Donor Awareness Council at 888.388.8605 or www.Donor-Awareness.org.
  
  
• After worship, discuss organ donation with family and friends. Let them know that you understand the need for organs and tissues among those who rely on transplantation to live. For us, the only cost is giving, for the recipient, the gift is life. For more information, contact Donor Awareness Council at 888.388.8605 or www.Donor-Awareness.org.
  
  
• Food for Thought: If you or a family member of friend needed an organ or tissue transplant, would you agree to the surgery? If you would agree to receive an organ, would you also agree to give? THINK ABOUT IT, TALK ABOUT IT, AND JOIN THE COLORADO ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR REGISTRY. For more information contact Donor Awareness Council at 888.388.8605 or visit www.Donor-Awareness.org.
  

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