Page 117 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2020

GIVING BACK
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL COMMUNITY PHARMACY
story by Lynn Lofton
For 22 years, many residents of Harrison, Jackson and Hancock counties have depended on the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy for necessary medications. Sponsored by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization dedicated to working with the poor, the non-pro t agency has lled the health care gap for medically needy persons. The pharmacy is independently incorporated and does not discriminate by religion, race, ethnicity, sex or age.
According to Executive Director Sam Burke, the pharmacy has served 570 clients and lled 25,346 prescriptions – valued at $1,083,893 – since January 1, 2020.
“Our fund raising e orts have changed slightly due to the pandemic,” he said. “We had to adjust the number of participants in our golf tournament this year, but the event was
extremely successful. We also have taken the opportunity to apply for
new grants relating to COVID-19
and were successful in getting
some new funding along the way.” The pharmacy has had to change its operations somewhat due to the
pandemic. “We’re limiting the number of people in the building at one time and our lobby has essentially been closed to walk ins except for one day per week,” Burke said. “We now have fewer volunteers in the building, but
we’re working more days each week. During this entire thing, not a single prescription has gone un lled, and no client has gone without the medicine they needed. Anyone in need of help who has called has been helped if their need was a medicine we carry.”
Burke says pharmaceuticals remain the number one expense, speci cally
insulin. Anyone wishing to donate can do so on line at www.svdprx.org or send a contribution to P.O. Box 1228, Biloxi, MS 39533.
St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy
715-B Division St., Biloxi | 228.347.9097 | www.svdprx.org
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December 2020 | 117