Donate Life Month Recognized By Town Of Huntington

HUNTINGTON, NY — The Town of Huntington and LiveOnNY are recognizing April as Donate Life Month and kickstarted a yearlong campaign on Tuesday dedicated to advocating for organ donation and spreading awareness.

LiveOnNY is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating lifesaving organ donations, caring for families of donors, educating and advocating the power donation holds. It is the federally designated organ procurement organization for the Greater New York City area.

The Town of Huntington is renewing its commitment to organ donation, as one town employee recently had a kidney transplant and another is desperately in need.

"Jonas Wagner, a cherished coworker of the Town, was recently told he needs a kidney transplant," the town wrote. "Jonas’ Swabbing Event to find a potential match for a transplant will be held in the Huntington Town Hall Board Room on Wednesday."

The Swabbing Event will be done by Renewal, a Kidney Donation Advocacy Group. The swabbing, scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., will be preceded by an hour-long program starting at 4:30 p.m. at Huntington Town Hall, at 100 Main St., Huntington.

Wagner, 44, is a husband and father of two. He is a Dix Hills resident.

"My kids have their programs, their shows. I can’t attend all these things because I’m on dialysis," Wagner previously told Patch. "It’s a challenge to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle with not being able to be with my family."

Despite the pain, he continues receiving treatment because of his family.

"I want to be here as long as possible to support them," he said.

The town's recognition of Donate Life Month will also include a flag raising at Huntington Town Hall, an organ donation awareness campaign, and more.