COVID-19 and Community Events

When COVID-19 reached Missouri mid-March, it was a mere two weeks from the start of National Donate Life month, the organ, eye, and tissue donation community’s most eventful time of the year. Groups rushed to cancel all in person celebrations and receptions and to find innovative ways to still recognize and honor those who had given the gift of life and sight.

Donate Life Missouri along with the Governor’s Organ Donor Advisory Committee, who organize the annual Donor Family Recognition Day at the Missouri State Capitol, made a quick pivot to create a video for donor families with the customary name reading ceremony as well as prerecorded speakers, including Missouri Governor Mike Parson.

Cornea Recipient, Chris Orr was originally scheduled as one of the speakers at the Capitol event. “I understood the circumstance, but I was disappointed the event was cancelled in April. I grew up going to the capitol and had looked forward to speaking at the event,” Orr said. That disappointment was felt worldwide, but throughout the remainder of 2020, Saving Sight found inventive new ways to connect with our volunteers, program recipients, and community partners. We conducted audio interviews, created thank you videos for our healthcare and hospital partners with content submitted by program recipients, and even tried our hand at livestreaming events.

Saving Sight’s Giving Tuesday Streamathon lasted a full 12 hours and featured nine interviews with Saving Sight staff, donor families, and cornea recipients including Chris Orr.

“I thoroughly enjoyed doing the virtual interview. I look forward to more opportunities to help Saving Sight. There are people out there that need to hear my story.”

As we move into 2021 with no sign of in person events returning, we hope to build on the ideas and experiences gained in this truly unprecedented year to continue to create new opportunities for connection and engagement with the community we serve. Click here to watch Saving Sight’s 12 hour Streamathon.