Local Involvement

We are caring neighbors, involved in community activities in meaningful ways and committed to reflecting the diversity of each community we serve.

Rite Aid is committed to raising funds and awareness for Diabetes, and has partnered with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) on many different initiatives. Every Fall all Rite Aid stores offer a comprehensive Diabetes Management health and educational program with important information on living with Diabetes. All stores also raise funds for the ADA by selling paper "STARS" for $1 during the month of November. All Rite Aid pharmacists are specially trained in diabetes care and stores offer an extensive selection of products geared to improve diabetes management. Rite Aid also supports the ADA's "American Diabetes Alert Campaign" by providing free risk test brochures in all stores. The goals of the Alert campaign are to inform the public about the seriousness of diabetes and to educate them about diabetes risk factors.

In 2003, the ADA named Rite Aid a Corporate Health Ambassador, recognizing the company as one that is taking action and demonstrating a commitment to helping associates lead healthier lifestyles.

Each year many Rite Aid teams participate in the ADA fundraiser, "America's Walk for Diabetes" by raising funds and participating in the walk in their local community. This year, Rite Aid launched its own "Walk with a Pharmacist for Diabetes" program where Rite Aid teams are walking in almost 100 "America's Walk for Diabetes" around the chain, and Rite Aid pharmacists are the walk captains. The Rite Aid Foundation is also donating $500 to each walk for a total donation from the Foundation to the ADA of $50,000.

Ray Tancredi, a Rite Aid pharmacist at store #3637, has been seeing the seniors at the Klein Jewish Community Center in Philadelphia, PA for more than 15 years. Tancredi sets aside time to talk with seniors about pharmacy-related issues and other topics. A win-win situation for all involved, as seniors gain understanding, Tancredi says "I get a great feeling when I spend time with them."

Recently, Tancredi addressed the group on Medicare Part D. Many of them have had concerns about their benefits, and I was able to address them. "Although this is a very difficult topic, I tried to present it in a way that was light and fun. This talk was just one of the many ways I have been able to build a great relationship with these seniors," says Tancredi.

Rite Aid associates are always giving back to their communities. Take pharmacist Amy Boatman, of store #142 in Hillsboro, OH. She recently returned to her alma mater, Hillsboro High School, to speak to students about her profession. She participated in the "Lunch with the Pros" program, a weekly school-sponsored lecture series where community professionals are invited to share and discuss their profession with interested students.

Says Boatman, "the kids had a lot of questions about what I do as a pharmacist. They were very into, and it was a great way for me to show them my love for my profession." Her talk was such a success that she was invited back to speak next year.

Every December, for the past eleven years, associates at the Rite Aid Distribution Center in Woodland, CA, have been opening their hearts and wallets. The associates work with Toys for Tots, an organization run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve that collects toys for children each Christmas, to help kids have a great holiday. Barrels were placed throughout the DC for associates to place their donations.

This past holiday season, the DC donated three pick-up trucks full of toys; they didn't stop there though. They also raised $1,800 that would be used to purchase additional gifts, making the Woodland donation the biggest of any organization in the area! Said Danell Marquez, who served as chief coordinator of the operation, "it was so well-received by everyone, our front lobby was full of toys." Nothing less than year's performance is expected for the 2006 holiday season.

Whether it be in their own backyard or miles away, Rite Aid associates are always willing to help those in need. In May of 2006, associates in four stores in Eugene, OR, joined forces with the Lane County Darfur Coalition to collect blankets for displaced persons affected by recent violence in the Darfur region of Sudan in eastern Africa.

Each store location set up donation boxes for customers to contribute blankets. Thanks to the efforts of both Rite Aid associates and customers, the collection was very successful. Kim Weils, Assistant Manager of store #5373 said, "Our customers really responded positively. We were collected over 50 blankets."

The efforts of Rite Aid associates don't go unnoticed. Store #3750 was recently awarded an Exceptional Customer Service Award from the Greater Seaford Chamber of Commerce.

A customer nominated the store for the award, citing the exceptional service of Shift Supervisor Charleen Hastings. Says Store Manager Jim Shultie, "We strive to be a neighborhood drugstore. Most of our customers that come in here know us personally." The store is now eligible for the annual yearly award which will be given out in the fall.