“April is National Donate Life month, and we are delighted to continue working with NYAD on a countywide basis to encourage residents to become an organ or tissue donor,” Putnam County Clerk Michael Bartolotti said in a press release.
“Putnam County is proud to be one of the many counties throughout the state participating in this important program and I am pleased to partner with County Executive (MaryEllen) Odell in bringing this program to the attention of our residents,” he added.
Only 32 percent of Putnam County residents are registered organ, eye, and tissue donors, a figure is slightly higher than the New York State average of 24 percent.
However, both numbers are significantly lower than the national average of registered organ donors, which is more than 50 percent.
“Twenty-one people die every day due to the lack of available organs,” Odell said in a press release.
“Ninety-eight percent of New Yorkers enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry through local DMV offices which makes our efforts on this behalf even more important," she added,”
“We can make a significant difference in increasing the numbers of donors through our constant contact with residents, and I am happy to work alongside County Clerk Bartolotti and New York Alliance of Donation to make their goal of a significantly increased registry a reality,” Odell said.
Bartolotti will place brochures and posters in the Department of Motor Vehicles Office in Putnam, informing residenrs that more 10,000 people in New York State are awaiting an organ, eye, or tissue transplant.
Those interested can enroll on the Life Registry, or by checking off the organ donor box on license and non-driver identification card forms.
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