Page 126 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2018
P. 126
GIVING BACK remedy
HELPING THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD MEDICATIONS
20th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting.
St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy
story by Alexis Williams
photos courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy
With locations in Biloxi and Hattiesburg, and extension sites
in Moss Point and Bay St. Louis, St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy helps South Mississippians who would otherwise go without much needed prescription medications.
“When people don’t have consistent access to their medication they make frequent trips to the ER, they are absent from work and even die a premature death,” said Sam Burke, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy.
In 2017, the pharmacy filled more than 29,000 prescriptions and served 790 people providing medications valued at $1.7 million. In 2018, they expect to fill more than 32,000 prescriptions.
“Many of our clients have to choose between their medicine or paying rent or even providing food for their children,” Burke said. “We work to take that burden off our clients thus improving their continuum of care and basic quality of life.”
With approximately 125 volunteers working more than 16,000 hours per year, the pharmacy stays busy fulfilling its mission of providing medication and wellness education. Prospective clients are vetted by volunteers to review their income and expenses as well as other insurance availabilities.
St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy has operated for 20 years and exists thanks to generous donations. Their largest expense is medication. “Because of our tremendous volunteers, 93 percent of
all dollars raised go directly to our program of work,” Burke said. “Donors can make tangible impacts in the lives of people in our community.”
Contributions can be made online at www.svdrpx.org or by mail to P.O. Box 1228, Biloxi, MS 39533.
St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy | 715 Division St., Biloxi | 228.347.9097
126 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2018 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
