Kellogg Community College will join Michigan Libraries for Life and Gift of Life Michigan next month in a statewide initiative to increase membership in the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.
College library staff will host an information and donor registry sign-up table in KCC’s Morris Learning Resource Center – which houses the KCC library – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, to assist students, staff and community members with signing up as organ, eye and tissue donors.
The LRC is centrally located on the KCC campus at 450 North Ave., Battle Creek.
Stefanie Overhuel, coordinator of the Michigan Libraries for Life initiative at KCC and secretary of the College’s LRC, said individuals interested in signing up simply need to bring their driver’s license or state ID card; registration will happen online via College-provided laptops, and only takes about 30 seconds.
“The KCC library will be educating, inspiring and empowering students, staff and community members to join the statewide initiative to save lives by becoming a registered organ donor,” Overhuel said. “By stopping by the library for just a few minutes on Oct. 7 or 8, you really could save a life.”
Michigan residents who join the state’s donor registry will receive a red heart donor symbol for the front of their driver’s license or state ID card by mail. Individuals who sign up as donors at KCC and registered donors who stop by the event will be given the opportunity to enter a drawing for a chance to win a free Kindle Paperwhite e-reader. KCC participants will also have the opportunity to learn more about the College’s library offerings, including free library cards for non-student community members who live within the College’s service area.
Individuals interested in joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry who cannot make the KCC event may also join the registry online at www.giftoflifemichigan.org/become-donor. Under “Where did you hear about organ donation?” select “Community / Event / Government,” then select “Michigan Libraries for Life.”
According to Gift of Life Michigan, Michigan’s federally designated organ recovery organization, more than 3,200 residents of the state are waiting for organ transplants. Since its inception in 2010, the annual Michigan Libraries for Life initiative has inspired nearly 2,000 people to sign up as donors.
“Libraries are a natural place to go to for information and community services,” said Gift of Life Michigan CEO Richard Pietroski. “This program is a great way to educate Michigan residents that signing the back of the driver’s license is no longer how it’s done and to provide library patrons the opportunity to join the state’s donor registry.”
For more information about Michigan Libraries for Life, visit https://sites.google.com/site/michiganlibraries4life. For more information about Gift of Life Michigan, visit http://giftoflifemichigan.org.
Visit the KCC library online at www.kellogg.edu/library.
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