The Need for Promotion and Education
Organ, tissue, and eye donation, and certainly transplantation, have all changed a lot in the past few decades, but the need for donors has not. While the number of donors has risen over the years, so has the number of people needing transplants. So it's imperative that we, as recipients, caregivers and family members, donor families and living donors, transplant professionals and others, all continue to work to promote and educate the public about donation.
There are many ways to help. Below are just a few.
Starting the Conversation about Donation
It can be difficult and awkward to start a conversation about donation. But there are some simple ways to help make it easier. Start by educating yourself. We have several pages to help under the "Learn More" tab. Learn about:
Breaking the Ice
Something as simple as wearing some apparel that promotes organ, tissue, or eye donation can break the ice to begin a discussion about donation. Start a conversation or simply say it out loud without speaking to anyone! Showing your support for donation and creating greater awareness can be as easy as putting on a shirt.
Here's a great place to start:
KNS Transplant Gear has a wide variety of designs and styles of shirts to help you kick start a chat about the transplant or donation journey that you, or a loved one, went through, or to simply show your support for donation. A selection of designs is below.
Donate Life State License Plates
Many states offer personalized license plates that show your support and promote donation. The cost of the plates goes to help each state's donor education programs, such as Donate Life Florida here in our state.
Visit the Donate Life America website to see what's available in your state! And Florida residents, see more below.
Donate Life Florida License Plates
The State of Florida will begin making the Donate Life specialty license plates if 3,000 vouchers are sold. These specialty plates make it easy to promote organ, tissue, and eye donation every time you're heading to work, going shopping, or whenever you're out! Please order yours today. The cost is just $32.50 if order online.
Sales of these plates benefit Donate Life Florida, the state organization that manages our organ, tissue, and eye donor registry. Donate Life Florida's mission is to educate Floridians about donation and encourage them to register as organ, tissue and eye donors.
Getting a voucher for the new Donate Life license plate is easy. You can purchase a voucher online through the St. Lucie County tax collector’s office. You don't have to live St. Lucie county to purchase the voucher online.
Vouchers can also be purchased at any tax collector's office in person. Many offices are taking customers via appointment only, so please check with the offices in your county for the rules: www.FLHSMV.gov/locations.
Additional information on the plate and voucher process is on the Donate Life Florida website at DonateLifeFlorida.org.
Here are a few things to know:
- If you order online, you will need your current license plate number for the vehicle you would like to use the Donate Life plate on.
- The cost of the plate itself will be $25, all of which goes to Donate Life Florida to manage the donor registry and increase awareness for the importance of lifesaving donation, plus $8 in state and branch fees. The total cost of the plate will be $33. (Online purchases will be $32.50.)
- If 3,000 vouchers are not sold by October, all purchases will be refunded.
- Donate Life Florida receives no taxpayer dollars for business operations or to run the registry.
- Those purchasing a voucher will get a certificate to redeem for the actual plate once Donate Life Florida has pre-sold 3,000 vouchers.
- Vouchers are available for motor vehicles only, no motorcycles or trailers, and commercial trucks weighing less than 26,001 pounds.
Please share this message with your friends, family and others who share your passion for lifesaving organ, tissue and eye donation. Encourage them to help us get the Donate Life license plate on the road in the Sunshine State!
