Teaneck Faith Leaders Recognize National Donor Sabbath This Month

TEANECK, NJ — As we enter into the season of giving, NJ Sharing Network believes there is no better way to get in the spirit than by learning about organ donation.

Two weekends before Thanksgiving marks National Donor Sabbath — a three-day observance where faith leaders from various religions, donor families, transplant recipients and donation and transplantation specialists come together to educate the public about organ and tissue donation.

NJ Sharing Network — a non-profit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue for those in need of a life-saving transplant — is hosting a variety of informational events in honor of National Donor Sabbath.

The director of hospital and community services at NJ Sharing Network, Alyssa D’Addio, said there are currently 26 people in Teaneck waiting for life-saving organs. She added that organ donation is a major issue throughout the country, as well as in New Jersey.

“Nationwide, 110,000 Americans are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and roughly 4,000 are here in New Jersey,” D’Addio said.

D’Addio also said in New Jersey, one person dies every three days waiting for an organ transplant. Through National Donor Sabbath, NJ Sharing Network is encouraging more New Jerseyans to say “yes” to organ donation.

“When we look at New Jersey, 80% of our waitlist is made up of people waiting for kidney transplants,” D’Addio said.

“So when we talk about diabetes [and] kidney disease, it does affect our state. Supporting these people by registering as a donor [and] saying, ‘we are here for you’ … provides them hope while they're on dialysis [or] waiting for that life-saving transplant.”

D’Addio explained that the reason why NJ Sharing Network is focusing their education in faith-based communities is because people often trust religious institutions for information about end-of-life decisions.

She also said that most major religions in the United States support organ and tissue donation as an unselfish act of charity.

Rev. Dr. Marilyn M. Harris from First Baptist Church of Teaneck said, “We share information with our community about organ and tissue donation to show them what love looks like. Many in our faith community have had life-saving transplants and they show others what the gift of life looks like.”

Rajesh Karnani, the son of a tissue donor and member of the Hindu community in Paramus, also voiced his support of organ donation.

“My father was passionate about his family, his faith and his support for organ and tissue donation,” Karnani said. “He would often speak with our Hindu religious leaders to discuss the virtues of organ donation, and they recognized it as the best gift anyone could give to another person.”

Online activities and in-person events will be held throughout November at churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship.

On Thursday, Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m. NJ Sharing Network will host a virtual event called “Faith and the Miracle of Organ and Tissue Donation” on their Facebook and YouTube channels.

D’Addio said it will be an entertaining event, as well as an informative way for faith leaders and those active in the faith community to discuss organ and tissue donation. They will also share inspirational stories and answer questions.

“One thing common throughout most religions I would say is ‘love thy neighbor’, give, be selfless,” D’Addio said. “ And when we're looking at the last act of our lives, if you're part of that less than 1% that can give life to other people through organ donation, why wouldn’t we do that?”

You can visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org/Donor-Sabbath for shareable social media graphics, as well as videos from different faith leaders talking about the importance of organ donation.

These are a few ways NJ residents can register to be an organ donor:

• Online at www.NJSharingNetwork.org
• Through the iPhone Health app
• In person at your local Motor Vehicle Agency