Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski was joined by other county clerks from Western New York to recognize April “Donate Life Month” at a press event last Wednesday at Niagara Falls International Airport. Throughout the month, those who have saved lives through the gift of a donation are honored and efforts are made to encourage more people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.
“I’m proud of the fact that the percentage of organ donors in Niagara County has grown over the last 9 years from around 29 percent in 2015 to 69 percent today, and I know we can do even better,” said Jastrzemski. “The national average is 64 percent, but unfortunately, the New York State average is just at 50 percent so there is work to be done.”
Jastrzemski said 85 percent of those who sign up to be donors in New York State do so through the Department of Motor Vehicles and thanked the Niagara County DMV staff for their continued efforts to raise awareness. He added that all three county DMV locations in Lockport, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda are decorated to promote Donate Life Month.
Jastrzemski said residents can sign up to be organ donors by visiting the state registry at https://donatelife.ny.gov/ or at any of the county’s (DMV) offices in Lockport, Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda. Jastrzemski said the DMV offices are all decorated to promote Donate Life month.
“There are more than 10,000 women, men and children in New York State waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, and every eight minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list,” said Jastrzemki. “The fact is that one organ, eye and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance 75 more.”