WEEKLY UPDATE: 04/23/26
This Saturday, April 25, the American Red Cross and Donate Life Connecticut will host a joint blood drive at the Wallingford Family YMCA, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in honor of National Donate Life Month. The direct signup link for the drive is here.
Many organ transplant recipients need blood during their long and extensive surgeries. This collaborative event embodies both organizations’ mission of saving lives through the gift of donation.
Donate Life Connecticut’s mission is to increase the number of registered organ and tissue donors through public education and awareness. The organization encourages healthy individuals to learn about living donation, which helps shorten the waitlist of more than 1,000 Connecticut patients in need of a transplant. In 2025, 337 of the total 976 organ donations in Connecticut were from living donors, according to Donate Life. Living donation offers another choice for transplant candidates, and it saves two lives: the recipient and the next person on the deceased organ waiting list.
National Donate Life Month is a time to raise public awareness about the critical demand for more donors and a growing gap between the number of people whose lives depend upon receiving an organ transplant and the number of available organs. This year’s theme uses trees as a symbol of life, connection, and support. A longstanding partner of Donate Life and American Red Cross, the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) will continue to fly the Donate Life flag at its Wallingford campus through April.
Click here to learn more about National Donate Life Month.
