For the third 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. 4 and 5, 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 12 percent of the total donors added to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry during the statewide Michigan Libraries for Life campaign held in October 2015, assisting 56 individuals in signing up to become organ and tissue donors. Of the 123 organizations throughout the state that registered 443 donors during the 2015 initiative, no other site registered more donors during the campaign than KCC.
The LRC also registered the most donors over the course of the October 2014 campaign, accounting for more than 20 percent of the total donors added to the registry.
Kelly Frost, coordinator of the Michigan Libraries for Life initiative at KCC and user education/experience librarian at 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 and encouraging KCC students, employees and community members alike to help save lives by becoming registered organ donors,” Frost said. “It’s not every day that you can save a life by spending a few minutes at the library.”
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 Kindle and will also be able to learn more about the College’s library offerings, including free library cards for nonstudent 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 3,500 residents of the state are waiting for organ transplants. Since its inception in 2010, the annual Michigan Libraries for Life initiative has inspired 2,900 people to sign up as donors.
“Through their participation in this outstanding program, libraries are providing hope to every one of the 3,500 Michigan patients waiting for an organ transplant,” said Gift of Life Michigan’s Interim CEO Rick Hillbom. “Libraries are a natural place to go for information and community services, and a logical place to educate Michigan residents about organ, tissue and eye donation. We are grateful for the ongoing and enthusiastic support of our library partners.”
For more information about Michigan Libraries for Life – including statistics from past Libraries for Life events – visit www.librariesforlife.org. For more information about Gift of Life Michigan, visit http://giftoflifemichigan.org.
Visit the KCC library online at www.kellogg.edu/library.
Pictured above, KCC 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.