A Night of Talent, Truth, and Togetherness: Organ Donation Awareness at Overflow Coffee

On a warm evening at Overflow Coffee in Illinois, something powerful happened.

CarrCARE, in collaboration with Gift of Hope, hosted an open mic night, not just to showcase talent, but to raise awareness about organ donation and celebrate the lives and stories that come with it. It was part of our ongoing work for Organ Donation Awareness Month, and it quickly became clear: this was a space for reflection, healing, and action.

The night began with music and poetry, but each act carried something deeper. Some performers were artists. Others were transplant recipients, family members of donors, to mention a few. People spoke about hope, second chances, and everything in between.

There was no barrier between audience and performer just shared humanity. You could feel it in the room: we weren’t just listening to stories. We were holding them.

What made the night even more special was the atmosphere. Overflow Coffee felt like the perfect venue warm, open, full of heart. People clapped loudly. And somewhere in between the poetry, the music, and the testimonies, a community formed. People who had never met before were suddenly connected by a shared desire to do good.

We at CarrCARE believe in turning compassion into action. So, as part of this mission, 10% of all donations from CarrCARE events throughout 2024–2025 will go directly to Gift of Hope, supporting their life-saving work connecting donors and recipients across communities.

CarrCARE Cookies for a purpose

If you were there, thank you. You helped make the night unforgettable.

If you missed it, don’t worry. This was just the beginning.

We’re building something here, a future where storytelling is activism, and awareness turns into real change. One mic, one night, one life at a time.