Donor family
resources
Saying goodbye to a loved one is heartbreaking. The grief can be overwhelming. Families tell us that in the midst of tragedy, they find comfort in knowing their loved one’s gift of organ and tissue donation leaves a lasting, living legacy of hope and healing.
We understand how important it is for families to feel supported following a loved one’s gift of donation. Sierra Donor Services provides donor families with helpful resources, bereavement materials, and information on local support groups.
If you are seeking support, we’d love to connect you with our Aftercare team. You can learn more about our Aftercare program by visiting our Caring for Families website. Or, you can email us at aftercare.sds@dcids.org or give us a call at 877-811-1256.
Volunteer Ambassadors play an important role in educating the public about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
Our inspiring group of Ambassadors includes people who are waiting for life-saving transplants, those who have already received transplants, donor family members, living donors, and supporters.
As an Ambassador, you’ll work with one of our External Affairs Coordinators to share your story and help others become registered donors.
We provide orientation sessions for every new Ambassador to prepare you for your role in educating and interacting with the public. After the orientation, Sierra Donor Services holds regular training sessions to help expand each Ambassador’s knowledge and presentation skills.
Many donor families find that corresponding with the transplant recipient or recipients can be a powerful experience. Donor families can take comfort in sharing stories and sending well wishes to those who live on because of their loved one.
Should you choose to connect, we’re here to help. Letters and cards can be a tremendous gift to both the donor families and recipients. To protect everyone, we provide guidelines for communication. Names remain confidential unless both parties agree to share those with one another, and we provide a correspondence address. We are happy to share sample letters to help you get started.
For more information about corresponding with recipients, please email sds.info@dcids.org or call 916-567-1600.
Your family’s donation story can inspire and comfort others. We hope you’ll share how donation has affected you and your family.
