According to the Organ Donor Health Research and Service Administration, 105,998 men, women, and children are awaiting a life-saving organ donation today. Individuals on the organ transplant lists have been waiting for an average of 3 to 5 years. Despite countless efforts, many will never receive the transplant that they need to survive. In fact, approximately 17 people die each day while waiting for a healthy organ.

In order to combat this growing issue, Delbarton Senior Will Ritter and Nurse McAuliffe formed the Donate Life and ODA club back in 2019 as Will’s freshman project. This club seeks to inform Delbarton students about organ donation and encourage them to donate. Will and Nurse McAuliffe, as well as all other club members, hope to increase awareness of this daunting issue and spread understanding to our school community. In fact, they held numerous promotional events throughout this April in order to shine a spotlight on donate life month. For instance, the Donate Life club held a bake sale and invited NJ Sharing Network’s Denise Peoples to provide a first-hand account of the wonderful gift of organ donation.

Many Delbarton students distance themselves from the Donate Life and ODA club because they have the inaccurate idea that they must make an organ donation. In reality, joining this club does not require you to have a live organ transplant. The leaders of this club only wish for you to advocate for this meaningful cause and consider donating after death.

During the club meetings, the leaders presented numerous ways to sign up as an organ donor, even as an adolescent. For instance, those under the age of 18 may sign a registration of intent with their parental guardians. Although this contract does not provide full legal authorization, it will help parents decide whether they would like to donate their child’s organs if an accident were to occur. Once the minor reaches adulthood, they may change their registration status in order to solidify their previous form of intent.

Moreover, an individual may sign up as an organ donor through the “apple health app” or at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In doing so, they have ensured that their wishes be respected if they ever passed away.

So what are you waiting for? Speak with your guardians and organize an organ donation system today. Thank you for your generosity and support!