N.J. Nonprofit Says Minority Organ Donators Are Needed

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, local nonprofit NJ Sharing Network is reaching out to Essex County’s minorities – including Hispanic and Latino Americans – and asking them to consider saving a life through organ donation.

To show the impact that one person’s selfless decision can have, NJ Sharing Network offered the story of Newark resident Reinaldo Garcia, who became an organ donor and saved a life when he passed away in 2011.

According to a news release from NJ Sharing Network, Reinaldo’s parents – Ezequiel and Iris – are now both ardent advocates of organ donation, regularly volunteering with the nonprofit at events such as the Transplant Games of America, a multi-sport festival event that highlights the critical importance of organ and tissue donation.

“Although organs are not matched according to race/ethnicity, and people of different races frequently match one another, all individuals waiting for an organ transplant will have a better chance of receiving one if there are large numbers of donors from their racial/ethnic background,” the NJ Sharing Network stated. “This is because compatible blood types and tissue markers—critical qualities for donor/recipient matching—are more likely to be found among members of the same ethnicity.”

A greater diversity of donors will potentially increase access to transplantation for everyone, the group noted.

According to the NJ Sharing Network, during 2015:

• 314 minority patients received organ transplants but there were only 86 minority donors
• 169 African-Americans received organ transplants but there were only 41 African-American donors
• 95 Hispanics received organ transplants but there were only 40 Hispanic donors
• 48 Asians received organ transplants but there were five only Asian donors

Photo: NJ Sharing Network, Ezequiel and Iris Garcia

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