Have a Heart, Get a Heart Event

This Valentine’s Day, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is inviting Somerville residents to City Hall to celebrate the power of organ donation and the life-saving impact it has on families across our community. Somerville is joining New England Donor Services (NEDS), the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), and donor families and recipients to mark National Donor Day and raise awareness of the "Have a Heart and Get a Heart" campaign.

At this event, community members will hear firsthand from Kenny Laferriere, a heart transplant recipient, who received his heart in 2001 after childhood cancer damaged his own. Today, thanks to his transplant, Kenny is a proud father and works to support organ donation as a Hospital Donation Strategist at NEDS. Also speaking will be Susan Flint, a mother who turned unimaginable loss into hope after her son Lucas saved five lives through organ donation.

This gathering will honor organ donors, celebrate those who have received the gift of life, and highlight the ongoing need for more registered donors. Right now, it’s easier than ever to sign up—when you renew your driver’s license or state ID, you can check the box to become a donor and help save lives.

Want to learn more about organ donation? Visit New England Donor Services and consider signing up today.