Secretary of State urges people to sign up to donate organs

Jesse White has been a vocal advocate for organ and tissue donation during his time as Secretary of State. (WJBC File Photo)
Jesse White has been a vocal advocate for organ and tissue donation during his time as Secretary of State. (WJBC File Photo)

 

By Nick McClintock

BLOOMINGTON- Secretary of State Jesse White is continuing his work of getting people to become organ and tissue donors.

April is national Donate Life month and White says every year, around 300 people die on waiting lists for organs. White reiterates that becoming an organ and tissue donor can save or improve the life of up to 25 people. “Right now in Illinois, we have 5.9 million people signed up to become an organ donor.” White says. “We have about 5000 people on the waiting list as we speak, and we lose about 300 each year because organs do not arrive in a timely fashion.”

Earlier this month, White kicked off the state’s organ/tissue donor campaign as part of a statewide effort to encourage registration and awareness at all 138 driver services facilities in the state of Illinois.

White says it’s a lot easier to become an organ and tissue donor than it was when he began in the Secretary of State’s office in 1999. The state required multiple witnesses to become a donor. In 2006, Illinois became a first person-consent state for organ and tissue donation. “All of have to do is go to www.lifegoeson.com, call 1800-210-2106, or come in to any of my 138 offices and indicate that you want to be part of the organ and tissue registry.” White said. “We will do our best to honor your wish.”

LISTEN to Secretary of State Jesse White HERE.

Nick McClintock can be reached at Nick. [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…