For the second consecutive year, Kellogg Community College will join Michigan Libraries for Life and Gift of Life Michigan in a statewide initiative to increase membership in the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.
KCC library staff will host a Michigan Libraries for Life information and donor registry sign-up table in KCC’s Morris Learning Resource Center (LRC) — which houses the KCC library — from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 6 and 7, to assist students, staff and community members with signing up as organ, eye and tissue donors. The LRC is located on KCC’s campus at 450 North Ave., Battle Creek.
KCC’s LRC registered more than 20 percent of the total donors added to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry during the statewide Michigan Libraries for Life campaign held in October 2014, assisting 110 individuals in signing up to become organ and tissue donors. Of the 70 organizations throughout the state that registered more than 500 donors during the 2014 initiative, no other site registered more donors during the campaign than KCC.
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, 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. KCC participants will have an opportunity to sign up for a drawing for a chance to win a bag of KCC prizes and will also be able 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, approximately 3,400 residents of the state are waiting for organ transplants. Since its inception in 2010, the annual Michigan Libraries for Life initiative has inspired nearly 2,450 people to sign up as donors.
“This campaign provides hope to every one of the 3,400 Michigan patients waiting for an organ transplant,” said Gift of Life Michigan’s CEO, Richard Pietroski. “Libraries are a natural place to go for information and community services. This program is a great way to educate Michigan residents about organ, tissue and eye donation, 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.
Pictured above, library staff pose with an organ donor quilt in the library following last year’s Michigan Libraries for Life event at KCC.
For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at https://daily.kellogg.edu/category/news-releases.