PASCO -- Local people in desperate need of skin tissue and bones may be able to get them thanks to a new donation program.

It's being run by the Franklin County Coroner's office, Franklin County Dispatch and Northwest Tissue and Sightlife of Washington.

The program is designed to make sure deaths that occur outside hospitals are reported for donations.

Once a death is discovered, the coroner will determine if the body is viable for donations.

If it is, the family of the deceased will be asked if they would like to donate.

"Those deaths that happen at home or those deaths that happen by accidental means seem to be falling through the cracks because nobody is calling the referral service and giving those families an opportunity to donate" said Dan Blasdel, Franklin County Coroner.

The program in Franklin County is the only one in Eastern Washington so far.