PARSIPPANY — Parsippany recently kicked-off National Donate Life Month to spotlight organ and tissue donation awareness.
It started with a fundraising dinner at Gourmet Cafe benefitting the New Jersey Sharing Network Foundation. The following day, Venture Crew 890 tied green ribbons around the trees along North Beverwyck Road in Lake Hiawatha.
Each year, at the beginning of April, those volunteering walk from the Foodtown on North Beverwyck to Chesapeake Road, tying green ribbons around trees. Green is the signature color of organ and tissue donation awareness.
The green ribbons are an effort organized by the Morris County Organ Transplant Group working with other community groups. The tying of the green ribbons was a tradition previously performed by Boy Scout Troop 177, a former troop based in the same area. After the troop’s dissolution in 2014, Crew 890 picked up the task.
Other Donate Life Month activities this April include a display at the main branch of the Parsippany Public Library and a guest speaker from the NJ Sharing Network Foundation board at the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany club meeting.
The Morris County Organ Transplant Group is comprised of men and women from Boonton, Denville, Randolph, Butler, Morristown, Morris Township, Lake Hopatcong, Chatham and Parsippany. Members have had transplants, are on the wait list, have donated and their families. The group meets at 7:00 p.m., on the first Wednesday of the month, in the Community Room of the Parsippany Police Station. For more information on the group, contact Nick at (973) 984-6966.
Crew 890, also known as the “Red Eagle Dancers,” is a Venture Crew based in Parsippany. In addition to being a Venture Crew, 890 is also a Native American dance group that travels throughout New Jersey, teaching about Native American dances and cultures. The crew, which is comprised of boys and girls ages 14 to 20 years old from across the state, strives to teach scout and personal skills, while providing many fun and safe camping trips and High Adventure opportunities.
