In response to surging demand for youth mental health support in the province, London Drugs today announced the launch of a new fundraising campaign: BE KIND. Between March 12 and April 1, 25 cents from Carlton and Papyrus Greeting Cards at London Drugs will go directly to the Kids Help Phone. At the same time, the BE KIND campaign encourages British Columbians to lift each other up by sending handwritten cards of encouragement, positivity and appreciation to each other.

“We are all living in more isolated circumstances,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs President and Chief Operating Officer. “Sending uplifting, reassuring and positive handwritten cards to friends, families, and neighbours is one way to improve our overall wellbeing and sense of connection.”

Last year, Kids Help Phone experienced a 102 per cent increase in the number of calls, text and connections from youth in BC. But with many of the charity’s annual donation campaigns impacted by COVID-19, finding new ways to raise funds has been critical amid surging demand for services.

“It takes courage to reach out and it takes a community to stand behind our young people,” said Elena Manica, Director, Community Partnerships, Kids Help Phone. “With thanks to the generous support of London Drugs, Kids Help Phone’s safe and trusted support service is available 24/7 for young people in British Columbia, no matter where they are or what they need, we are here for them.”

For over 31 years, Kids Help Phone has been the only 24/7 mental health support service available to youth in Canada. Young people can text ‘TALK’ to 686868 any time and receive free and confidential support.

ABOUT KIDS HELP PHONE

Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support in English and French to young people. As the country’s virtual care expert, we give millions of youth a safe, trusted space to talk over phone or through text or in self-directed supports in any moment of crisis or need. Through our digital transformation, we envision a future where every person in Canada is able to get the support they need, when they need it most, however they need it. Kids Help Phone gratefully relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, stakeholder partners, corporate partners and governments to fuel and fund our programs. Learn more at KidsHelpPhone.ca

Spring has arrived, and there is more to be excited about then just spring flowers! (We do love tulips though.) Here is our run down of the top new and exciting items at London Drugs this month in store and online.

Ziplock Contain the Clutter Bags

Being organized is something many people have as a new years resolution. If you had this on your list but haven’t quite figured it out, consider these new bags to help. Conveniently sized in a large and small option, they are able to store phones, glasses, make up and more. These great bags help keep the inner workings of your bags or drawers organized and stylish.
Launching in late March, available in store and online.

Samsung Galaxy S21

Samsung have released their new S21!  The new 5G capable phone with features like the strongest glass in a Samsung phone, 8K cinematic video, and super steady stabilization, it’s sure to impress. With three camera lenses, ultra wide, wide-angle, and telephoto, you’re sure to capture all the action no matter the scene. A 10MP front facing camera ensures crisp selfies and video calls. Samsung once again, raises the bar with the S21. Available in store now.

Nespresso Machines

You will soon be able to get your Nespresso machines at London Drugs. We are excited to announce that later this month we will have the Breville Nespresso Creatista, Inissia, and Vertuo coffee machines and the Delonghi Nespresso Inissia available in stores and online!

Easter Items

With Easter coming up in early April, we have our Easter selection out in store and online. With confectionary, décor, egg decorating kits and more, we have everything you need for Easter. Remember to get creative with the little ones and consider these 5 creative ways to celebrate Easter at home.

We are conducting an urgent voluntary recall of 5-piece KN95 mask product UPC 0-62823-74870-5 (item # 74870) imported by CTG Brands Inc.

It was determined some of the units were shipped with small holes along the seams of the masks which may affect the masks’ filtration efficacy. The products were sold as of September 1 in all London Drugs stores and the product supplier has advised London Drugs that it estimates about 18 per cent of the masks sold in stores may have had the noted deficiency.

London Drugs has notified Health Canada of the mask deficiency and will work with the product supplier, CTG Brands Inc., and follow Health Canada’s guidance regarding further review of the masks and this product recall.

Your health and safety is of utmost importance to London Drugs and we are taking this matter very seriously. You are encouraged to bring back this specific mask product to customer service for a refund or if you have any questions you can call London Drugs Customer Care Centre 1-888-991-2299 or email us at LDOnline@londondrugs.com

Thank you

• Local Central program
• Girl Guides of Canada
• Tech Drive
• Canada Proud program
• Be Kind program
• Legion poppy sales
• Stocking Stuffers for Seniors program

Transcript:

Hi I’m Clint Mahlman, President of London Drugs. As we near the end of 2020, we want to take a moment to reflect with you on the past year.

With it being such a difficult time for many, and being a Canadian, Family owned business, it was important to come together and do what we could to lend a helping hand to our neighbours in our communities. At London Drugs, we implemented new initiatives to support seniors, local businesses, Canadian suppliers and nonprofits organizations and more… and you, our customers, rallied together to support one another in a trying time.

Through our Local Central program, you stepped up to help support local small businesses in need. We offered up shelf space to those who had to close their doors, with 100% of the proceeds going right back to those businesses. We also offered shelf space to the Girl Guides of Canada, and your cookie purchases raised over $900,000. That’s a lot of cookies!.

With many schools shifting to virtual learning, the back-to-school season looked very different this year. So in response, we ran our first ever Tech Drive, where you in the community donated hundreds of tech devices that were restored and donated to students and families in need.

As a proud Canadian, family-owned company, it was important to support other Canadian companies. So we promoted with pride a number of our Canadian suppliers and their products, through our Canada Proud program.

Through the Be Kind program, you spread positivity and sent cards to friends, family and neighbours with a portion of the proceeds going to the Royal Canadian Legion. Poppies were also sold in all 80 of our stores and we added another $20,000 to the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund.

Thanks to you, our Stocking Stuffers for Seniors program had its most successful year ever. You fulfilled the wish lists of over 20,000 seniors, making Christmas brighter for our most vulnerable neighbours. Your generosity was so overwhelming that we had to request additional wish list tags, and we were even able to surprise extra care homes with unexpected gifts for their residents.

In a year when we all had to stay apart, you came together, going above and beyond and becoming true heroes in our communities. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We look forward to another year as your community partner, serving you in 2021 and for many years to come.