The Gift of Giving

‘Tis the season of giving! There are a number of ways in which we can all give back to the ones we love and our communities this holiday season. 

1. Give the Gift of Life: Organ Donation
   1. Anyone can donate organs, regardless of age and medical history. You can become an organ donor by signing up online through your state registry or at the local department of motor vehicles. There are a variety of organs and tissues that can be donated, both while alive and after passing away. 
      1. Living Organ Donation: One kidney, one liver lobe, a lung or part of a lung, part of the pancreas, part of the intestines
      2. Living Tissue Donation: skin, bone, bone marrow, umbilical cord, amnion, and blood
      3. Deceased Organ Donation: heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, intestines, and corneas
   2. For more information on organ donation, you can visit: 
      1. United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS)
      2. Mayo Clinic- Organ Donation
      3. UF Health- Transplant Center
      4. Donate Life America    
2. Give the Gift of Time: Volunteering Opportunities
   1. Soup Kitchens and Food Banks like Feeding America
   2. Homeless shelters
   3. Fire Departments
   4. Hospitals
   5. Nursing Homes
   6. Offer to help neighbors with household chores or errands
3. Give the Gift of Resources: Fundraising, Going to Charity Events, and Donation
   1. National Kidney Foundation Annual Kidney Walk National Kidney Foundation- Get Involved
   2. Jacksonville Charity Events- Eventbrite
   3. Donate money to a charity that works towards a cause that you believe in
   4. Use Amazon Smile to send a portion of your purchase(s) to charities of your choice
   5. Donate clothes, shoes, household supplies, food, books, furniture, decorations, kitchen appliances, and more
      1. GoodWill
      2. Salvation Army
      3. VA centers
      4. City Rescue Mission (CRM)
      5. Hospice Thrift stores (Haven Hospice, Community Hospice, etc.)
      6. Local churches
   6. Hurricane Ian Relief:
      1. Red Cross
      2. Salvation Army
      3. Feeding Tampa Bay

Resources:
https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/process/living-donation#:~:text=As%20a%20living%20donor%2C%20you,or%20part%20of%20the%20intestines.
https://unos.org/transplant/deceased-donation/

**This information is not sponsored**