April Is 'Organ Donation Month' in Huntington

April is now “Organ Donation Month” in Huntington, officials say.

The Huntington Town Board declared the initiative at its April 8 board meeting, urging residents to consider participating in the New York State Donate Life Registry.

More than 10,000 people in New York are on the waiting list for a transplant and the number of persons on the waiting list far exceeds the number of donors, town officials say. Every 15 hours, someone in New York dies waiting for an organ.

By declaring April Organ Donation Month, the board hopes to provide an opportunity to help people learn more about organ donation. Board members also aim to help recognize the critical need for organ, eye, tissue, bone marrow and blood donation. And they hope to assist the thousands of patients awaiting transplantation, according to the town.

To increase awareness, and to help people sign up for the registry, the town has placed a link to the New York Organ Donor Network at the bottom of the home page on the town’s website. People can also visit the New York Organ Donor Network online.