Orange County DMV encourages lifesaving donations during Donate Life Month

Orange County Deputy Clerk Kelly Eskew announced that the County’s Department of Motor Vehicles is teaming up with LiveOnNY during Donate Life Month to increase enrollment in the New York State Donate Life Registry.

Donate Life Month is a national observance which raises awareness about the need for organ, eye and tissue donation.

“Organ donation saves lives, and we are proud to be partnering with LiveOnNY on this important initiative,” Eskew said. “This initiative will help to educate Orange County residents on how they can make a huge impact on other people’s lives by becoming an organ donor. I’m proud that our DMV staff has been so enthusiastic about raising awareness about promoting this important and worthwhile program.”

Organ, eye and tissue donation

During April, the staff at Orange County’s DMV office at the Orange County Government Center in Goshen will encourage residents to learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation and the impact it has on many lives. Enrolling in the Donate Life Registry ensures that an individual’s wishes about donation will be known at the time of his or her death.

“Organ donation saves lives and I appreciate that the County Clerk’s Office is raising awareness about this important issue,” Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said. “You can really make a difference by enrolling in the organ donor registry and it’s simple to do. Residents can register at DMV when you obtain or renew a driver’s license, or at the Board of Elections office when you register to vote.”

According to LiveOnNY, New York ranks 50th in the nation in percent of residents who are registered organ donors. According to LiveOnNY, only 32 percent of New Yorkers are registered as organ donors, but more than 90 percent support organ donation. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and one tissue donor can improve the lives of up to 50 people. More than one million lifesaving and life-improving tissue and corneal transplants are performed each year.

How to enroll?

New Yorkers age 16 and older can enroll at their local DMV offices by signing the organ donor consent certification.

This can be found on the forms used to apply or renew a driver license or non-driver identification card. When you enroll using this method, a symbol of a red heart and the words “Organ Donor” will be printed on the front of your driver license or non-driver identification card at no extra cost.

New Yorkers can also enroll in the Donate Life Registry electronically through the DMV website: dmv.ny.gov if they have a driver license or non-driver identification card. This method of enrollment will not result in a new driver license or non-driver identification card with a red heart symbol and the words “Organ Donor.”

New Yorkers also have the unique opportunity to enroll in the New York State Donate Life registry through the voter registration form.