In January 2026, a friend shared a story that troubled me. Earlier that day, he had been standing in line at a pharmacy when an elderly gentleman in front of him approached the counter to pick up his prescriptions. When the man learned the cost, he realized he could not afford them. Sadly, he walked away without his medications.
The story stayed with me. As a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), I knew that I was part of a Conference of nearly 30 people who are committed to helping our neighbors in need. I wondered if there was something we could do to help in situations like this.
I spoke with pharmacy managers in our area and confirmed that this is not an isolated occurrence. People do, in fact, find themselves at the pharmacy counter unable to afford the prescriptions they need.
At our next Conference meeting, I presented the idea of helping neighbors who are unable to pay for their prescriptions. The response was very positive, and a committee was formed to turn the idea into a workable program.
We are now partnering with our local Walmart pharmacy, which was especially enthusiastic about participating. We decided to begin with one pharmacy so we can develop the process, work out any challenges, and learn what works best before considering expansion.
Business cards displaying our Conference phone number are now available at the pharmacy. When a customer is unable to pay for a prescription, the pharmacy clerk can offer them a card and encourage them to call the number provided.
We take it from there.
What began with one troubling story has become an opportunity for our Conference to respond in a meaningful way—helping our neighbors obtain the medications they need and reminding them that they do not have to face difficult circumstances alone.
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“I am so grateful to SVdP. You helped me when no one else would.” -A neighbor who received prescription assistance
