November is Eye/Cornea Donation Month (EDM)!

We invite you to join us in celebrating Eye Donation Month. This annual observance strives to raise awareness about cornea donation and transplantation, honoring the gift of sight given by selfless donors and their families, celebrating corneal transplant recipients, and encouraging individuals to register as donors.

The Eye Bank Association of America announced this year's theme is "It Only Takes a Minute" - emphasizing how quick and easy it is to register as a donor and make an informed meaningful decision of generosity. EBAA is hosting a video contest to encourage individuals to create short form videos illustrating how easy it is to register. To learn more about the contest visit RestoreSight.org (Submission deadline is November 14th)

A few local ways you can join us in celebrating the observance :

Print or download our Thankful Thursday series calendar filled with weekly activities you can complete at work or in your neighborhood. Share the calendar with family members, friends and colleagues who support our mission.

Visit our Donate Life, Gift of Sight table at community events in Edinburg on November 7th - Daniel A. Saldana "Share The Love" Memorial 5K , in Pearsall on November 14th - Frio County T.A.B. Fall Family Festival and in San Antonio on November 21st - Mission Marquee Plaza Farmers & Artisan Market

You can also follow us on social media to re-share and like our EDM posts throughout the month, host a Donate Life Gift of Sight Flag Raising, or contact us if you want to explore more ideas and opportunities.

Quilt Libraries for Life

We appreciate the community libraries that have again joined in celebrating Eye Donation Month through our Quilt Libraries for Life program. Beginning November 1st, the libraries listed below will be displaying Gift of Sight Memorial Quilt Blankets, along with Donate Life, Gift of Sight educational brochures.

Books on the shelves of libraries are filled with stories and information for readers in the community. It is our hope that in reading and viewing the stories of donor heroes, viewers will be inspired to further educate themselves on the donation cause and consider registering as a donor.

·       Las Palmas Library - 515 Castroville Rd., San Antonio, TX 78237

·       Great Northwest Library - 9050 Wellwood, San Antonio, TX 78250

·       Guerra Library - 7978 Military Dr. W., San Antonio, TX 78227

·       Leon Valley Public Library - 6425 Evers Rd., Leon Valley, TX 78238

·       Maverick Library - 8700 Mystic Park, San Antonio, TX 78254

·       Potranco Library - 8765 TX-151 Access Rd, San Antonio, TX 78245

·       Westfall Library - 6111 Rosedale Court, San Antonio, TX 78201

·       Thousand Oaks Library - 4618 Thousand Oaks Dr., S.A., TX 78233

·       Forest Hills Library - 5245 Ingram Rd., San Antonio, TX 78228

·       Johnston Library - 6307 Sun Valley Drive, San Antonio, TX 78227

·       McCreless Library - 1023 Ada St., San Antonio, TX 78223

Rio Grande Valley and beyond

·       Harlingen Public Library - 410 76 Dr., Harlingen, TX, 78550

·       Cuero Municipal Library - 207 E. Main St., Cuero, TX 77954

If you are a patron of one of the above stated libraries, please share with the librarian or manager your appreciation for their support of Eye Donation Month.

Celebrating Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is not specifically a part of Eye Donation Month activities. Nonetheless, we've celebrated the holiday that is traditionally celebrated in early November, with donor families and our community members for several years.

Thank you to the families who attended and shared photos for the RGV Bridging Lives - Gift of Sight altar at IMAS in McAllen, Texas.

In the RGV, we are also hosting an altar at Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum in Harlingen, Texas. A community celebration will occur on Thursday, October 29th.

Our San Antonio area Bridging Lives - Gift of Sight Altar is open for the community at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. We have hosted the altar for over a decade, thanks to our partnership with the center. For additional details on all of the altars, view the poster summary here.

We welcome you to view the album of vibrant photos capturing the events, as they occur, on our Facebook page - fb.com/saeyebank

We're hosting a Gift of Sight, Donate Life donor registry and

information booth at Mission Marquee Farmers & Artisans Market,

located at 3100 Roosevelt Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78214.

Join us on Saturday, November 21st from 9am to 1pm.

Thank you to Donate Life Texas for providing us with the

vibrant green Donate Life themed pop-up tent.

A yoga or Zumba fitness will kick off the market at 9 a.m.

All fitness levels are welcome.

Consider attending to find fresh, locally sourced food and explore the handmade crafts and products. A seasonal Tree Adoption will also occur at the market, hosted by the City of San Antonio

Parks & Recreation Department.