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People’s Pharmacy aims to Return It Forward

The pharmacy wants to help local groups raise money for their organizations.
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The Return It Forward receptacle on 1st St. NW

Being part of a local club or group can be expensive and People’s Pharmacy has come up with a great way to help.

Groups and clubs face registration fees, insurance, facility rentals, travel costs, and more. Some, especially if they’re small, often don’t have the funding necessary to support their programs.

“I’ve been working with sports and rec teams in the area for quite a while now,” said Troy Clark, co-owner of People’s Pharmacy. “The feedback I’m getting from clubs is the clubs are kind of getting smaller, and there are less resources to go around.”

He said local clubs try to keep costs low for participants. In order to supplement these costs, a bit of fundraising must be done. However, Clark has noticed in recent years there doesn’t seem to be as many people joining groups or clubs, meaning clubs are really stretched trying to ensure whatever funding they have goes as far as it can.

This is where Return It Forward comes in. It’s a donation program sponsored by People’s Pharmacy, aimed at helping local clubs and groups get the funding they need. A drop-off receptacle is in place on 1st St. NW, right next to the glass bottle receptacle.

“People can donate (their bottles and cans) into the receptacle, and that’s it,” said Clark. “Instead of getting their money back from a bottle return depot, they can donate those cans and bottles to our program, and People’s Pharmacy will sort them, and store them, and sell them, and donate 100 per cent of the sales to the Nakusp and Area Community Foundation, who in turn will redistribute it to the groups that need it.”

This is the first year People’s Pharmacy has done this kind of program, and it’s something the pharmacy plans on doing for another few years to see how it works for the community. The funding can be allocated for any group that needs it, whether it be a sports program, a school program, or an arts and culture program.

Clark thinks there is a need for groups that are struggling, and sees this as a great way to meet that need.

“The community is always so supportive of the kids and the youth groups. I think it’s a really positive program for the community to see them support groups like that.”