National Donor Sabbath occurs in November of each year. This year it falls on November 14-16.  It provides the religious community with a chance to reach out to your congregations and help raise awareness about the critical need for organ, tissue and eye donors and to raise awareness about your religion’s beliefs and traditions related to organ, tissue and eye donation.

This event is supported by the South Dakota Lions Eye Bank and the Division of Transplantation, health Resources and Services Administration. November is chosen because it is so close to Thanksgiving and is viewed as an interfaith time to come together for giving thanks of enhanced life and health.

Health care facilities and congregations are encouraged to support the efforts of National Donor Sabbath by including the topic of organ and tissue donation in their worship services and implementing other donor awareness activities that weekend.

As a religious leader in the community you can play a vital role in the National Donor Sabbath observance by encouraging people to learn the facts about donation and to discuss their wishes with their families. Family communication is critical for solving the shortage of donor organs and tissues. When a death occurs, hospitals request consent for donation from the next-of-kin, thus it is crucial that family members know each other’s wishes about donation before death occurs. Your addressing the issue of donation could be the catalyst for those discussions.