Oct. 7 – Two local churches said they would support a local program that provides struggling patients with free prescription drugs.
The move comes weeks after the Prescription Assistance Program of Ohio announced a potential closure in September if it does not receive funding.
President Joel Lucia noted that a $30,000 donation from Advent Lutheran Church in Mentor will cover its costs for six months, while First Church, Congregational in Painesville also offered $1,000 in funding. The program continues to seek support through online fundraising and mail-in donations.
Lucia said if the program received an additional $30,000 to $35,000, it would have enough funding for a year. He hopes to use this time to “put the program on solid footing”.
“The program was weeks away from completing services,” he said in a written statement, later adding that donations “will now provide an opportunity to find other avenues of support.”
The Reverend Steve Bond, pastor of Advent Lutheran Church, said he heard about the program when he saw reports of its potential closure. He spoke with a retired pharmacist from his congregation who was familiar with the program, and she spoke with Lucia about the needs of the program.
“We feel we have been blessed, and often seek to support programs and/or ministries that reach out and help those who are struggling financially,” Bond said. “We also have in our department that we want to help an aging population and work with seniors in Lake County.”
He added: “Once we knew it existed, we didn’t want to see it disappear from the map.”
Bond said he hopes the donation will encourage other churches, organizations and people to consider donating to the program.
Reverend Tom Coffer, senior pastor of First Church, Congregational, said: “We are currently focusing on faith in action and how we can get more involved in the community, and, you know, how we live our faith in the world we live in today, and one way is to partner with organizations that are already working in the community.
In addition to financial support, Coffer noted that members of his church have expressed interest in volunteer work with the program.
“I just hope it will allow people to get the drugs they need,” he said.
The pharmacy previously had a three-year funding agreement with FirstChoice Home Health, Lucia told the News-Herald earlier this year, where the home-care agency would provide the pharmacy with $65,000 each year. After making part of the first payment, the agency informed the program that it would no longer be able to provide the support.
Lucia asked for support from the Lake County government and health officials before announcing that the program would end at the end of September if it did not receive funding.
With recent donations from the church, he said, “We will continue the operation with all our might.”
Lucia said people can donate to the program in two ways. First, they can visit “gofundme.com” and search for “Prescription Assistance Program of Ohio”. They can also send donations to the Prescription Assistance Program, 7757 Auburn Road, Unit 6, Concord Township, OH 44077.
Checks should be made payable to “Prescription Assistance Program”.
According to Lucia, the program is a nonprofit drug depot that serves 735 Ohioans, primarily from Lake County, but open to anyone residing in Ohio who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford their fees. prescription drugs.
The program only charges shipping, although it said it waives those fees in the event that patients are unable to pay. The financial requirement is set at three times the poverty line, but the organization does not require a financial background check.
More information can be found by visiting papofohio.com or by calling 440-350-1470.