NJ Sharing Network Celebrates Día de los Muertos with Special Altar Display Honoring Organ and Tissue Donors
(New Providence, NJ) – On November 1, 2024, in honor of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters in New Providence unveiled a colorful and vibrant altar display with photos and touching tributes submitted by family members and loved ones of organ and tissue donors. Family members stopped by to see the alter throughout the day and reflect on the gift of life.
“Our Día de los Muertos altar display is a wonderful way for us to celebrate and honor the generosity of local organ and tissue donors and their families, who said ‘YES’ to saving and enhancing the lives of others,” said Carolyn M. Welsh, President and CEO of NJ Sharing Network. “This celebration allows us to reflect on their caring legacies, while also serving as a powerful reminder for more people from our multicultural communities to consider registering as organ and tissue donors.”
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), over 100,000 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, with nearly 4,000 of them in New Jersey. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others. However, the opportunity to give the gift of life is extremely rare - not everyone who registers as a donor is able to donate after they pass away. In fact, less than 1% of all deaths meet the specific medical criteria to be an organ donor. This underscores the pressing need for more registered donors. To learn more about organ donation, get involved, and join the National Donate Life Registry, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
Día de los Muertos, celebrated on November 1 and 2, is a meaningful time for families and communities to honor the lives and legacies of loved ones. Rooted in Mexican tradition and embraced across many Hispanic cultures, the celebration blends Indigenous and Catholic customs, using altars, marigolds, and offerings (ofrendas) to welcome the spirits of the departed back for a joyful reunion.
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