In honor of National Donate Life Day, Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk Jennifer Hardesty-Besecker and her staff of 33 deputy clerks wore blue and green, decorating the driver’s license office for the occasion — including a sign spanning the front of the Morton J. Holbrook Judicial Center.
When anyone obtains or renews a driver’s license, deputy clerks ask the driver if he or she wants to donate $1 to Trust for Life, which uses funds to raise public awareness and encourage organ and tissue donation throughout the Commonwealth.
Hardesty-Besecker said a majority of people donate. On average, she said, 100 to 150 come through the driver’s license office in a given day. Since April 1, the office has collected $525 for Trust for Life through $1 donations.
As of noon Friday, Hardesty-Besecker said her office has raised $200 above those the $1 donations of people just wanting to give a little extra in honor of the national recognition.
To celebrate the day, Hardesty-Besecker and her team offered a drawing for anyone that donated $1 Friday. They were entered to win a special picture, Donate Life bag and tumbler and given a donut.
Admittedly, Hardesty-Besecker said she is passionate about organ donation, partially because her chief deputy clerk and friend, Teri Van Meter, had a sister that donated her organs. Hardesty-Besecker said she understands first-hand the gift of life through organ donation.
“How can you not be passionate about something when you’re saving someone’s life,” Hardesty-Besecker said.
It is that passion that Hardesty-Besecker said will keep her promoting the Donate Life campaign.Although this is the first year of celebrating National Donate Life Day in such a significant way, she said it will continue to be a tradition every year.
