A Red Deer pharmacy owner says it’s time for druggists to open their wallets.
Dev Aggarwal, owner of Westpark IDA Drugs, said he was recently thinking how lucky he was to still have a job, because so many in the province don’t have work amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
That’s when it dawned on him it’s time to give back – to spread kindness and generosity in the community.
Premier Jason Kenney has said the province is headed toward a 25 per cent unemployment rate – one of the highest numbers in modern history.
Aggarwal said unemployment means many Alberta families might go hungry, and that’s why supporting the Red Deer Food Bank at this time is imperative.
“The Red Deer Food Bank has always been close to my heart. I’ve made donations to them in the past,” he said.
Aggarwal got on GoFundMe recently asking Alberta pharmacists to donate $100 each and each pharmacy owner to donate $500 as a way to give back.
Aggarwal has sent the fundraising request to pharmacists across the province through a Facebook group that unites most of them.
There are about 1,400 pharmacies and about 4,500 pharmacists in the province, he said.
“So if everyone donated, say, even $100, we will have a significant amount.”
Aggarwal, who also owns Sylvan Lake Pharmacy, encourages pharmacists to continue doing the important work in their communities.
“We all need to pat ourselves for being at the front lines of the pandemic,” he said.
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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