Donor Family Services
- Working Through Grief
- View Donor Family Quilts
- Request Information
- Family Reflections - Donor Family Services newsletters
- Donor family events
- Sign-up to Volunteer
- WNY Bereavement Services
At UNYTS we value the generosity of families who choose donation. We recognize that donor families have a variety of needs for bereavement support, for contact with transplant recipients, for information regarding the donation process, and for opportunities to share their experiences with others.
As part of our ongoing commitment to donor families we offer a variety of support services and programs. Donor families will receive follow-up letters from UNYTS expressing our condolences. About a month after the death of a loved one donor families receive a letter stating how their loved one’s organs and tissue were used. Our counseling staff will then make a follow-up phone call to donor families to provide support and grief counseling services if needed.
If you have any questions or comments about any of our services or programs, please contact our family services department via email or phone at 716-853-6667 or 1-800-227-4771. Described below are some of the programs and services available to donor families:
Recipient information: Updates on recipient information is given in our second letter to donor families and upon request of the donor family.
Corresponding between donor families and recipients: UNYTS can facilitate anonymous correspondence between donor families and the individuals transplanted with the donor’s organs and tissues. Click here for a set of guidelines.
Support groups and educational programs: Every fall we sponsor a holiday grief seminar which helps donor families learn ways to handle the holiday time during the difficult grieving process. Additional support groups and programs are being developed and will be available in the near future.
Donor family connection - from another donor family member: Donor families may ask to speak with another donor family for support during the grieving process.
Donor Recognition Ceremony: Each spring UNYTS holds a ceremony to recognize the contributions of our donors and their families. Donors and their families are honored at a recognition ceremony for their generous gift of donation. At the ceremony family members are presented with a Gift of Life medal from transplant recipients, representing the link between donor and recipient. Each donor family receives an invitation to attend the event in the year following the death of their loved one.
Musical Celebration: Held each fall the musical celebration is a beautiful way to honor donor families and their loved one who has given the gift of life. Various musical acts from around the Western New York Community put on a concert for donor families which touches the hearts of everyone.