Once again, the Foundation Board of Directors were impressed by a 2021 grant recipient visit. Directors, Bill Bach and Tony Cippola visited Good Samaritan Pharmacy and Health Services at their facility in Nokomis. They met with Luldes Serrano, George Forcier, and Bill Palace board directors to tour the facility and assure grant monies are being spent as indicated. Good Sam applied for and received a grant of $2800 in 2021 from the Foundation.
Good Sam Rx (founded in 2008) provides free medication, medical services, and patient advocacy to uninsured members of the community to positively affect their quality of life. Prospective clients complete an annual application to ensure income qualification. Currently, over 500 residents of Sarasota County are served with 50+ being North Port citizens. The average annual cost per client averages approximately $400.
While the facility in Nokomis is small it looked to be a model of efficiency and organization. Patients have access to two exam rooms, the pharmacy, and several rooms for consultation and administrative purposes. Good Sam has of staff of approximately 50 people and nearly all are unpaid volunteers. These include local doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, high school students, and other residents of the community. The pharmacy is open during clinic hours so patients can start treatment immediately and avoid transportation costs to another site for the medication.
Good Sam judges its success through patient surveys (85% rated them as outstanding or good) and through patient compliance to medical treatment (90% compliance rate is achieved).
Bill and Tony left the facility thinking it is a great organization with a hardworking dedicated team of people providing an important service to our neighbors in need. If you would like to learn more, volunteer, or donate, please visit their website at https://goodsamrx.org
Good Samaritan Rx Staff taking care of our North Port citizens
The Foundation is saddened to learn of the passing of past director Lynda Gifford. She was a long-time supporter of the Foundation, and her husband Wayne is asking that memorial donations be sent to the Foundation in her name. Those wishing to honor her in this way may send checks payable to the Heron Creek Community Foundation (HCCF) to 3401 S. Sumter Blvd., North Port FL 34287. Please put Lynda’s name in the memo line. Donations will go into the endowment fund.
Please visit our website at HeronCreekFoundation.org for more information about the Foundation and other grant recipients.
