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Mascot Hartley T. Heart in front of Gift of Life Michigan GRAND BLANC TWP, MI - Gift of Life Michigan is set to host the first-ever Genesee County Interfaith Breakfast this month. The free event begins at 10 a.
m. on April 24 at the Captain’s Club Golf and Event Center, located at 10200 Woodfield Drive, in Grand Blanc Township. Bringing together faith leaders and community advocates, the breakfast aims to highlight the importance of organ donation.
Currently, more than 2,600 patients in Michigan are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, with over 114,000 individuals on the national transplant list. Among the invited speakers are Pastors Jerry and Lynn Kerr of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Flint, Pastor Brian Willingham of People of Christ Ministries, and Tarnesa Martin, a community advocate at Hurley Medical Center. Martin will discuss the critical role of organ donors and the impact they have on local communities.
“The purpose is to engage the community about the importance of organ and tissue donation,” said Shalonda Griffin, community outreach coordinator for Gift of Life. “And second, when people who belong to faith-based communities have to make big decisions regarding organ donation or a transplant, they turn to their faith leaders. We want to make sure they are educated as well.
” The event’s keynote speaker, Michael Love, is a two-time double lung transplant recipient and a dedicated volunteer with Gift of Life Michigan. Love works to dispel myths surrounding organ donation and encourages individuals to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Through his volunteer efforts with the Detroit Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program Foundation, he specifically advocates for organ donation within minority communities.
Attendees will also hear personal stories from those whose lives have been changed by organ donation. Saginaw resident and kidney recipient Londel Cook will share how the support of his church community played a crucial role in his journey. Flint resident Alisa Christian will recount her experience as a living kidney donor, a decision that saved the life of her sister, Alena.
Community outreach coordinator Shalonda Griffin has a deeply personal connection to organ donation. She lost her husband, Greg Jones, on November 24, 2020, after he spent seven years on the waiting list for a lifesaving kidney transplant. He received only one potential call, which ultimately didn’t move forward.
“Often times when we think about donation, we think about the recipient or the donor and that’s very important,” Griffin said. “But people need to stop and think about how donation not only affects those people, but everyone connected to those folks. “Greg’s passing affected me, his mom, family and friends.
By helping one person, you are touching so many others.” Jones had End-Stage Renal failure, triggered by high blood pressure and type 1 diabetes. “He spent seven years on dialysis,” Griffin said.
“We always hear the happy stories about donations. That’s great. But we don’t always hear about those people who don’t get those happy endings.
” Community members interested in attending the breakfast can RSVP online at golm.org/breakfast . “Even if you don’t belong to a faith community, please do not let that deter you from joining this breakfast,” Griffin said.
“These are stories that affect everyone.” Those looking to sign up for the Michigan Organ Donor Registry or learn more about the donation process get additional information by visiting giftoflifemichigan.org .
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