About 400 people in Pennsylvania die each year because of a lack of organ donations.

One case of lives being changed for the better by an organ donation was Lawrence P. Brennan of Tamaqua, whose corneas were donated after his death in 2010 to save the eyesight of two people.His wife of 12 years, Judy Brennan, carries on his memory proudly, knowing that his passing improved the lives of two strangers.She will be speaking about her husband's donation at "Organ Donation as a Faith-Based Decision," tonight and Sunday at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tamaqua."It's a good experience. As painful as it is that he died, a part of him gets to move forward and help someone. My heart hurts because I miss him so much, but I'm glad someone can see," Brennan said.Brennan, a member of Zion Church, arranged the event with the Gift of Life Donor Program, who handled Lawrence's donation. "I mentioned the idea to other church members and got a lot of positive feedback. Lots of members were interested," Brennan said.Susan Koomar, Gift of Life regional community relations coordinator, helped arrange the program and will be speaking at the program."Part of our outreach is to the faith community because organ donation is considered the ultimate act of charity," Koomar said.With only 46 percent of Pennsylvania residents signed up as donors and more than 6,000 in the region waiting for transplants, both Brennan and Koomar see this program as an opportunity to increase awareness.Koomar also hopes to dispel some of the falsehoods surrounding organ donating in the process."People may think they're too old, but our average donor age is 50 and our oldest donors are in their 80s. People also seem to think that if they've had cancer in your life, they can't donate organs. If someone has been cancer free for at least five years, they can donate."Two memorial quilts, known as "threads of love," will be on display. The quilts are made of squares dedicated to local organ and tissue donors. One of these squares will be in honor of Lawrence."It was such a good marriage. It was 12 years, but it felt like it was only a day," Brennan said.The program will be part of the congregation's regular service at 5:30 p.m. today and 9 a.m. on Sunday.To register as an organ donor, visit

www.donors1.org