"May you live every day of your life."
~ Jonathan Swift

February Volunteer Newsletter
Happy February!

February has arrived and with it, a winter wonderland (at least here in Albany)! 

January flew by and was filled with several volunteer meetings, community events and new volunteer orientations throughout our service area. Thank you to all those who were able to brave the often unpredictable weather for meetings and events - it certainly was a busy month.

National Donor Day is February 14th! If you haven't made plans to participate (see ideas below) and would like to, let me know by this Friday. I will be mailing out items to everyone that has already requested materials from me to celebrate National Donor Day by the end of this week. If you decide you'd like materials after Friday, February 3rd, please call CDT's main line at 518-262-5606 or email Denise at [email protected] as I will be out of town from February 4th -11th. 

As always, with any events that you plan or cover - we LOVE to see pictures! It is the best way to highlight the incredible work that you do and the events where CDT has a presence, so please continue emailing or texting me the pictures of your events.

A reminder that the Young Adult Enrollment Law also takes effect on February 14th. From that day forward, 16 and 17-year olds will be able to register on the state's organ and tissue registry (parents still have final consent until the young adult turns 18). The law has the potential to add tens of thousands of New Yorkers to the state registry, helping to close the registration gap here in New York and allowing students the incredible opportunity to document their wishes to be organ, eye and tissue donors.  I have drafted a template letter to do outreach to high schools as the new law's implementation is a great opportunity to develop a presence in our community high schools. We need your help in reaching out to your local schools. If this is something you're interested in doing, please let me know and I'll send the template letter your way!

Check out additional upcoming meetings and opportunities below and as always, do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, ideas or event-planning initiatives. We are here to help in any way possible to help make more LIFE possible! 

Thank you for having heart!

- Shaina
Looking for ways to celebrate National Donor Day on February 14th? How about...

Fly a Donate Life Flag!

Take pictures with red National Donor Day hearts.
I have plenty to mail to volunteers - or you can make your own by cutting large red hearts out of construction paper and writing phrases like "National Donor Day, "Celebrate Donors!" and "Donate Life!" in the middle of them.

Teaming up with a local community organization to host a "Donate Life Night:"
Know a local restaurant, bookstore, fitness center, boutique, etc. that is supportive of donation? Host a Donate Life Night! Set up a table, share facts about donation, tell your story and help people who are interested register to be donor! The business can hang up Donate Life balloons, posters, and other random Blue and Green decor to help show support.

Stopping into your local DMV office to say "thank you" for registering donors on the Vermont and New York State Organ and Tissue Registry:
The majority of people that register to donate life do so at the DMV. Every time a DMV staff member asks if someone wants to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor, they are helping to save lives. So, bring a treat, bring some bracelets and pens, bring a poster...most importantly, say "thanks!"

Conducting Donor Drives:
Consider hosting a donor drive in your community, at your local hospital, or as part of a local volunteer organization's regular programming & event schedule.

Working with your local American Red Cross to set up a Donate Life Table at an upcoming blood drive! Local chapters of the American Red Cross can be found here:  http://www.redcross.org/

Sharing Photos, Stories and Events
We want to see what you're up to! Share your Donate Life photos, events and exciting activities with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter! Photos can be sent to [email protected].  Be sure to tag us in your posts so we can "like" and share them, too! 

Sharing your Gift of Life story! 
Email [email protected] to get started.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

Wednesday, February 15th: Donate Life Utica Volunteer Meeting
Faxton-St. Luke's Hospital Campus
3:30 pm
 
Friday, March 3rd: Advancing Tobacco Free Communities-Reality Check Family Movie Night (Table)
Fusion Community Church, Cobleskill, NY 12043
5:30 pm - 8 pm (1 or 2 volunteers needed)
 
Donate Life Month is in April! While it may seem worlds away, it will arrive before we know it. Again, now is a great time to start thinking about how you might like to celebrate throughout the month of April and on Blue & Green Day (April 21). Again, please let us know how we can help make your Donate Life Month celebration a success... we're full of tips and ideas, including:
  •  Providing you with a Donate Life flag to hang at your local high school, college, community center, favorite coffee shop, etc.
  • Providing you with a blue and green kit to take to work, class or somewhere in your community to take fun blue and green pictures for Blue & Green Day
  • Team up with a local bakery and see if they'll hang up Donate Life Month posters and make a fun blue and green treat to sell during the month of April
  • Host a registration drive at your office, school, or gym
  • Research any local 5K's or walks that may be happening during the month of April in your town and see if you can set up a Donate Life table 
Fact of the month:






Center for Donation and Transplant NY-VT | 518-262-5606| [email protected]| w ww.donatelifecdt.org
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