Pharmacy Daily | Putting his heart into care for battlers

ONCE again demonstrating a pharmacy's connection to help its community in the moments that matter, Blooms The Chemist Casey Central in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs has expanded an initiative to help women who are struggling financially during these tough economic times and has also launched a new initiative for children in the area.

Pharmacist owner Andrew Leslie (pictured with his staff) and the organiser of these two charitable programs, said he had identified a need in his local community - in particular among women from the local Afghan refugee population in Casey City - who were struggling to afford even the basic pharmacy products.

"I noticed a lot of mums in the community were hesitant to purchase pharmacy products because they had no resources," Leslie said.

So he and his pharmacy team relaunched a program they call 'Women United,' a charity fund to which community members and customers can donate, and the pharmacy matches the full donation amount dollar for dollar.

"Women in the community who are struggling financially can then access these funds to buy essential items ranging from period care products such as pads and tampons to hair and skincare products," Leslie said.

Another new initiative the team at Casey Central launched recently called, 'No Child Left Behind', attracts community-wide financial and product donations, again matched by the pharmacy, to ensure local children whose families may be struggling can still get access to health and wellbeing care, support and products.

"We know how often parents visit a pharmacy to purchase items for children, especially during the colder months of the year, for basics such as throat lozenges, Panadol, and topical creams.

"These can add up to quite a bit throughout the Melbourne winter season," Leslie added, who is also the owner of Blooms The Chemist in Daylesford (Victoria) and Glenorchy (Tasmania).