London Drugs expands COVID-19 Community Support Program connecting United Way volunteers with neighbours in need

April 10, 2020 – London Drugs is expanding its community support program launched a few weeks ago, to continue to help more seniors and vulnerable individuals who are self-isolating. Starting in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley with potential expansion to more areas, a new collaboration with United Way connects ready and willing volunteers with vulnerable people right in their own neighbourhood – offering to help with food delivery, home maintenance work and other assistance during COVID-19.

“Since launching our Seniors Support Program a few weeks ago, we have helped hundreds of seniors with a variety of requests from sourcing important products to making special direct deliveries quickly, to their homes,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs president and chief operating officer. “Supporting United Way’s “local love in a Global Crisis” is a natural extension of the community outreach our support team has been providing. We need to help as many people as possible during this time of crisis and we need to get the word out to the most vulnerable in our communities that help IS available.”

When customers are shopping at London Drugs in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley for their essential items, they will now see United Way “local love in a Global Crisis” postcards which they can pick up and drop off to their neighbours’ mailboxes and front doors. The postcards indicate help is available and provides the contact information for a United Way community engagement specialist in their neighbourhood.

Individuals in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley in need of assistance can also fill out United Way’s online form. The pre-screened volunteers are ready to help with grocery or prescription deliveries, a referral for financial assistance, assistance with technology, or even social connection via a friendly phone call.

“We’ve had an overwhelming number of volunteers come forward through this crisis,” said Kim Winchell, Director, Social Impact, United Way of the Lower Mainland. “So many people are looking for ways to counteract their feelings of stress and restlessness by helping out. It’s really been incredible to see neighbours helping neighbours. In many cases, they are making life-saving connections in the communities where they live.”

“The physical distancing required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 changes how we can offer support, but we continue to find new and caring ways to take care of people every day,” said Mahlman. “A simple act of local love can go a long way to ensure that everyone in our communities gets the help they need during these challenging times.”

London Drugs will also be accepting at till donations for the United Way in all 82 stores and online at LondonDrugs.com. Funds raised will go directly to United Way initiatives supporting those most affected by COVID-19.

United Way’s “local love in a Global Crisis” supports five key areas:

  1. Basic needs: Ensuring people have access to basic essentials such as food, personal hygiene products, etc.
  2. Help to seniors: Ensuring vulnerable people who are isolated, are also supported.
  3. Capacity for community services: Ensure that community partners can continue to do their vital local work.
  4. Mental health support: Enable crisis lines and system navigation services.
  5. Support for volunteers: Ensuring volunteers receive the support they need to carry out their acts of local love.

A reminder seniors outside of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley who are self-isolating and need assistance with basic necessitates or medications can email SeniorsSupport@LondonDrugs.com. London Drugs’ seniors support team is available around the clock to help. Caregivers, family members and neighbours can also email on behalf of someone they know who is in need.

See all of our updates and community support initiatives related to COVID-19

Important update from Clint Mahlman, President & COO of London Drugs

To our valued customers,

In these rapidly changing times, it is important for us to stay connected and informed more than ever.  Please take a few minutes to hear how everyone at London Drugs is working to support you and our communities during this time.

From our London Drugs family to yours,
Stay well and stay safe.

See all of our updates and procedures regarding COVID-19

Need to shop? #ShopSmart

Precautions and guidelines grocery and drugstore shoppers should follow during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep customers, retail employees and communities across Canada safe.

BEFORE WE SHOP

  • If you’re sick, or have been asked to quarantine at home, don’t go to your local grocery or drugstore. Use contactless delivery and have someone drop them off at your door, knock, then retreat to a safe distance!
  • While we all feel isolated and look for ways to fill our days, to keep our loved ones busy, we need to remember that we must avoid planning our grocery or drugstore trips with others in tow. Just designate one person to shop! Shop alone.

WHILE WE SHOP (alone)

  • Practice Physical Distancing – 2M or 6ft. (That’s the length of an average hockey stick 😊)
  • Be considerate. Only buy what you need! Only touch what you take.
  • Wash your hands before and after you shop and use sanitizer whenever you can.
  • When paying for your goods, use contactless debit or credit / tap wherever possible.
  • If you use re-usable bags – wash them before and after your shopping trip – and if possible, bag items yourself – or don’t use them at all right now.
  • Be kind – we are all in this together.

ALWAYS – WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY WORKING TOGETHER

  • Be considerate. Listen to the authorities … they have our best interest in mind and by following these tips, we’ll get through this crisis.
  • We all have a role to play in keeping these retail environments safe for employees and customers.
  • Shop Smart!

https://vimeo.com/retailcouncilofcanada/download/403706998/19b66f7f8e

 

https://vimeo.com/retailcouncilofcanada/download/403706998/19b66f7f8e

March 28, 2020 update from Chris Chiew, London Drugs General Manager of Pharmacy, regarding working hard to keep you and your loved ones healthy and safe

To our dear patients and customers,

We would like to take just a couple minutes of your time, to let you know what all of us at London Drugs are doing to help keep you and your loved ones, healthy and safe.

Here is an important video message from our General Manager of Pharmacy, and member of London Drugs Executive Committee, Chris Chiew.

From our London Drugs family to yours,

Stay well and stay safe.   

Healthcare workers and First Responders will have exclusive store access 8-9 pm Monday to Saturday, 7–8 pm Sunday

March 24, 2020 –  Starting March 25, London Drugs will roll out to its 82 stores, exclusive shopping for all healthcare workers and first responders during the last hour of the store’s opening, between 8-9 pm daily Monday to Saturday and 7-8 pm Sunday.*

*As store operating hours can change, please check your local store hours of operation

 

“We are offering frontline workers a dedicated time to get their shopping done as easy and as stress-free as possible. They often work long shifts and many stores are closed by the time they are off their day shifts,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs president and chief operating officer. “We know it is a stressful time for those working on the frontline of this health crisis and it is imperative we do everything we can to help these individuals stay healthy and take care of them as best we can.”
The dedicated shopping hour is for first responders including firefighters, police officers, ambulance paramedics, active military personnel and frontline healthcare workers including hospital staff, care home staff, medical centre employees and pharmacists.

In order to gain entry in the store, our first responders and health care workers will be asked to show Employer ID or credentials from their place of work.

“From pharmacists to hospital staff, paramedics, nursing home employees and volunteers, we applaud all of your heroic work to care for people under these very trying times,” said Mahlman.

March 21, 2020 update from Chris Chiew, London Drugs General Manager of Pharmacy, regarding COVID-19

March 21, 2020 update 

Dear valued London Drugs patients and customers,

We are now a couple of weeks in, having made major adjustments to our lives. It is hard to believe how much has changed in such a short time and I hope you are all getting the support you need from family, friends and co-workers, to stay as healthy as possible.  

In my first communication on March 16, I made sure you were aware of the rigorous cleaning and sanitation practices happening at all of our stores and that we were working endlessly to replenish inventory of essential items, as fast as possible. This is still happening, and our top priority continues to be to help our patients and customers remain healthy and safe to the very best of our ability. This includes putting a limit of 2 essential items per customer, to ensure quantities are fair for everyone.

As recommendations from the health authorities evolve rapidly, we continue to introduce new and enhanced safety measures in all of our stores. This includes special shopping hours for seniors and people with disabilities (currently Monday to Friday 8 – 9 am and this may extend to weekends). We may also need to shorten hours in some of our pharmacies to make sure we can continue to operate with the highest efficiencies and safety, while keeping up with unprecedented demands.

When in London Drugs and to assist our customers maintain the recommended social distancing, you will soon see decals on the floors designating the appropriate 2 metre length we should be standing from one another. You will also soon see plexiglass barriers that will go up between our customers and staff. These extra cautious measures are necessary right now. 

Something new we have just started, is a program to help seniors who might be isolated or in desperate need of essential items or medications. If you know of a senior who is in great need, we have a dedicated team of staff who are here to support them. Caregivers and family members can email SupportSeniors@LondonDrugs.com.

I would like to take this time to thank all of our employees. While much of the public is being asked to stay home, our stores are deemed an essential service and so our staff are coming to work, stocking shelves, and filling your prescriptions.  

Also, something positive to share with you. As an industry, grocers and pharmacies are keeping the communication lines open. We are sharing best practices with each other daily, in our efforts to help keep our communities safe.

As a 75-year-old trusted Canadian family company, we look at what all of us are going through and we want to do everything we possibly can, to take care of each other. We will get through this and we are in this together.

Stay safe, stay well.

 

Important Prescription Refill and Prescription Delivery Information

New hours of operation for the vulnerable at all London Drugs stores and dedicated support team and resource for Seniors

March 19, 2020 – We know that governments are asking for pharmacies and grocery stores to remain open to the public at this time, due to our critical role in keeping people fed and well and healthy in this crisis. London Drugs and its staff are rallying to support the governments and our communities’ needs, doing our very best under trying circumstances.

Beginning on Monday, March 23rd, all London Drugs stores in Western Canada will be open only to seniors and people with disabilities from 8 am to 9 am Monday to Friday. We will also be closing during the week at 9 pm. For now, it will be regular store hours on the weekends.*

*As store operating hours can change, please check your local store hours of operation

 

Further to dedicated shopping times for our seniors, London Drugs has set up a dedicated resource to help seniors on a one-on-one basis. Caregivers and family members can email SupportSeniors@LondonDrugs.com if they know of a family member who might be isolated and in desperate need of any essential items or medications. Full information can be found at https://www.londondrugs.com/support-seniors.html.

“We are all finding ways to adjust to our new realities and what is critical is that we all do our part to help each other stay as healthy and safe as possible,” said Clint Mahlman, London Drugs president and chief operating officer. “In our London Drugs stores we have implemented even more rigorous standards on everything from sanitation and limiting quantities of essential products. Now, we have dedicated a team of staff to support seniors. This is obviously new for us, and there will be learnings as we do our best to help the most vulnerable. Operationally, things are changing rapidly on how we help our customers; having a direct way to help seniors is one more way we can act on the betterment of our communities.”

London Drugs’ customer care service centre is operating at full capacity and so this email option SupportSeniors@LondonDrugs.com is a new way specifically for seniors to get assistance.

With respect to operating our stores, London Drugs is watching and adhering to the daily updates from all levels of government and our local health authorities. We have a response team comprised of all departments who meet daily to review all of the next steps required to keep staff and our customers, healthy and safe. This includes practicing social distancing and the ways we work and interact in our stores will keep evolving.

“As a health care provider, London Drugs is grateful to all of our staff in all of our stores and at our corporate head office working hard to continue to provide products and services to our patients and customers during these challenging times,” added Mahlman. “Our pharmacy teams and all of our customer service and expert staff are taking the necessary precautions while working to help people go about their daily lives in new ways, while they also adjust to all of the new demands themselves. We applaud our staff for this.”