Walgreens gives more than $100,000 of in-kind donations to areas hit by Hurricane Isaac

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In the week after Hurricane Isaac made landfall along the Gulf Coast, Walgreens responded with donations of more than $100,000 worth of products to the American Red Cross for relief efforts in the hardest-hit states, the pharmacy retailer announced Wednesday. The company delivered three truckloads of food items to Red Cross facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for distribution to first responders and those in need.

“We are committed to the health and safety of the communities we serve,” Walgreens market VP Kim Treece said. “With the help of our team members, store operations and distribution centers, we were able to provide much-needed assistance to residents, relief workers and others in the area.”

Anticipating temporary store closures due to severe weather, Walgreens prepared in advance by staging more than 100 emergency generators for rapid deployment. Logistics managers also implemented emergency procedures to ensure store shelves were stocked as demand increased for prescription medications, bottled water, batteries and other essentials.

With nearly 230 Walgreens locations in areas impacted by the storm, the company also received requests from its local team members who experienced hardships due to the extreme weather.

Employees are being assisted through the Walgreens Benefit Fund, which was created in 1939 as a tax-exempt charitable foundation designed to help team members in need. Every team member who is faced with an extreme hardship and has exhausted their financial resources is eligible to apply for assistance. Employees are not required to pay back the donation.