President Mark Killingsworth presided over today’s meeting. Steven Utroska provided the opening prayer. Gene Owens led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was held at the Holiday Inn North and on Zoom. Joe Bost thanked those who helped with today’s meeting.
Stew Deen then introduced today’s guest speaker, Sam Burke. Sam is the Executive Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy. He has been in this position since 2011. The Community Pharmacy is in Biloxi, however’ they have opened a pharmacy here in the Hattiesburg area. The Pharmacy began operations in 1998 and has been serving the Hattiesburg area for the past 5 years. The Pharmacy serves individuals who need prescription assistance. It buys prescriptions at the wholesale cost, receives sample drugs from area doctors, and has partnerships with nursing homes that provide unused prescriptions.
L-R: Stew Deen, Sam Burke, and Mark Killingsworth.
The operation receives about 30% of its funding from contributions. It also receives support from hospitals, hosts fundraising events throughout the year, and applies for grants. The Pharmacy has three paid employees and has more than 100 volunteers who make the operation work. About 93% of all the money raised for the Pharmacy goes directly to their clients.
The average age of clients in the Hattiesburg area is 41. Most of them are working poor or disabled. Each client is evaluated every 6 months to determine if they are still eligible to receive benefits. The caseload in Hattiesburg is now 70. The Pharmacy has served 274 Hattiesburg area residents since they opened. They have provided 24,000 prescriptions valued at $835,000.
You can learn more about the Pharmacy by visiting their website at www.svdprx.org. If you would like to donate or volunteer to help, call Sam at 228-374-9097.
Mark thanked Sam for providing information about this service. He then presented Wes Brooks and the DuBard School with a $300 check, representing the money the club raised through recent t-shirt sales.
Mark then introduced Coty Primeaux. Coty has applied for membership in the club. He is a Financial Advisor with Regions Investment Solutions.
Lynn Walton then announced that the Club’s cause for the last quarter of this year is the Rotary Foundation. She asked each member to consider making a $125 donation to the Foundation. Those who do contribute will be entered into a drawing for a prize.
There being no further business to come before the club, Mark adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”