Eye Bank to Relocate to Clark, New Jersey

Plans are underway to move to move the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey to a new, larger home. Our new facility will be located at 77 Brant Avenue in Clark, right off the Garden State Parkway at the Westfield/Clark exit (Exit 135).

The new space will have a state-or-the-art laboratory to meet our current and future needs. We look forward to showing off our new facility at an Open House, scheduled for March 18, 2010. Please watch for more information about the Open House as it becomes available.

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Meet our new Community Coordinator

Cathy Coursen joined the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey team in July, 2009, and hit the ground running. She has been working with our Ambassadors and reaching to in the community, promoting eye, organ and tissue donation.

Cathy has a BA in Economics and an MBA in Marketing, both from Rutgers University. She will be instrumental in our reaching a goal of presenting a program about donation to approximately 200 Lions clubs throughout New Jersey.

You can reach Cathy at ccoursen@lionseyebanknj.org

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I Joined! Update

Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey staff members and volunteers have been visiting Lions Clubs and other community groups around the state with the intent of telling them about the Donate Life NJ Donor Registry, and the importance of signing up as a donor.

These visits have been part of the Eye Bank’s
I Joined! program, a grass-roots campaign to get the word out about eye, organ and tissue donation. The presentation is designed to answer questions about donation and explain its importance. Presenters bring with them the necessary forms to join the Registry right there.

I Joined! presenters have already visited 34 Lions Clubs, and have 12 more presentations scheduled before the end of the fiscal year.

If you would like to set up a free I Joined! presentation, contact the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey at (973) 921-1222.

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Have you joined the Donate Life NJ Registry?

If you’re not on the Donate Life NJ Donor Registry, please consider
signing up today.

There are two easy ways to join:

Joining the Donor Registry is the only way to ensure that your wishes will be carried out after your death, but the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey urges everyone to talk about donation with their loved ones as well.

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National Donor Sabbath Weekend

Join thousands of people across the country in celebrating National Donor Sabbath, held November 13-15. The purpose of this event is to help people better understand where their religion stands on the issue of donation.

Most religions in the United States support eye, organ and tissue donation as an honored and compassionate expression of generosity and love and one’s final act of charity. Please speak with your faith leader about National Donor Sabbath. If you would like more information, resources or to arrange for a speaker, contact the Lions Eye Bank of New Jersey at (973) 921-1222.

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Flags Across America honors eye, organ and tissue donors

In 2009, Donate Life America initiated the Flags Across America program during National Donate Life Month as a symbol to the American public of how many people have been touched by donation and to call attention to the need for more people to designate themselves as donors.

More than 5,000 Donate Life flags adorned the skies in 39 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. Flags were flown at donor hospitals, transplant centers, donation agencies and motor vehicle departments. In addition to flag raising events, many partners held recognition ceremonies in which donor families were presented with a keepsake flag; car flags were flown on recovery vehicles; and smaller flags were staked in gardens and public areas of hospitals, workplace buildings and homes across the country.

For Flags Across America 2010, Donate Life America invites all donor families, recipients and patients waiting to join in this nationwide display of unity and hope.

Ways you can celebrate Flags Across America 2010:

Visit www.donatelife.net and click on the Donate Life store to view flag items. Flag quantities are limited, so act now to ensure delivery by early March!