This week’s voluntourism spotlight focuses on a not-for-profit alliance of national organizations that you can assist no matter where you travel in the United States. Donate Life America brings together national organizations and state teams in the United States to increase organ, eye, and tissue donation.

On February 14, don’t just celebrate Valentine’s Day. Join Donate Life in their organ donation efforts on National Organ Donor Day. Donate Life America promotes organ, eye, and tissue donation. When one donor can save up to eight lives, it’s important that everyone is aware of the necessity for donors.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, any given day there are 116,996 waiting for an organ and every day 18 people die waiting for an organ.

Anyone who tuned into this year’s Rose Parade saw just a small reach of Donate Life’s impact across the nation. Every year the organization selects 72 donors to feature on the float, giving their families a way to honor their loved ones and depict the importance of organ donation. Reaching beyond a marketing campaign for organ donation, Donate Life America helps facilitate high-volume organ donor registries and implements multimedia educational tools and programs for its partnering organizations.

Registering to be a donor is simple and accessible for anyone over the age of 18 (or 16 with parental consent). Just go visit the website and click on your state. You will be directed to a page that allows you to join the national organ registry. You can also register to become a donor during your next trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Visit Donate Life’s website to learn your state’s procedures regarding donations.

By Darra Stone for PeterGreenberg.com