St. Luke Pharmacy helps clients
choose best health care options JACKSON — With the support of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Catholic Charities, and St. Dominic Hospital, Stacey Johnson, director of health ministry for Catholic Charities, has been investigating the feasibility of establishing a charitable pharmacy to serve (initially) the metro Jackson/tri-county area.
“While there has always been a need to assist our elderly and other financially disadvantaged neighbors obtain the medications they need to support their health, due to the current state of our economy, the need is now greater than ever,” she said recently.
“With the rising costs of health care, prescriptions, and other basic needs, many of our neighbors are forced to make a decision that should never have to be made: choosing between the medication that sustains their health or food for their family.”
Johnson said the mission of St. Luke Community Pharmacy is to prevent such a decision from ever having to be made by providing prescription medications to the financially disadvantaged members of our community who have chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, or mental health disorders.
Controlled substances and birth control will not be provided, she commented.
In addition to providing medications, St. Luke Community Pharmacy will also assist clients with applications for Patient Assistance Programs through pharmaceutical companies. Providing these services will allow our financially disadvantaged neighbors to concentrate their remaining resources on meeting their other basic needs, Johnson said.
St. Luke Community Pharmacy was officially incorporated through the Secretary of State’s Office on May 14, 2007. The application to establish tax-exempt (501c3) status through the IRS was recently mailed.
While the pharmacy will initially be limited in its geographical scope, it is hoped that enough resources will be collected to expand services (and/or set-up satellite offices) throughout the Diocese of Jackson.
Currently, we are recruiting individuals to expand the Board of Directors for St. Luke Community Pharmacy, Johnson said. Individuals willing to serve as officers on the board are especially needed; and filling the position of treasurer is an immediately pressing need.
For more information, or to volunteer services, contact Stacey Johnson at 601-326-3747 or stacey.johnson@catholiccharitiesjackson.org
