Wellness Rx Phoenicia Seeks Non-Profit Fundraiser

PHOENICIA - We are America’s first nonprofit community pharmacy and wellness center, located at 53 Main Street in Phoenicia (the former Key Bank building). As we approach our one-year anniversary of our Grand Opening last April, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible journey we have embarked on together, but there is still work to do!

Pharmacy for the Public Good (PPG) was born out of a vision to address the pharmacy and healthcare deserts in our underserved areas especially in rural America.  As a nonprofit, our model relies on community partnership and local support, much like a local library. 

We are reaching out to you, our valued residents, patients, businesses and visitors, to not only patronize our Phoenicia pharmacy and wellness center, but also to contribute to our 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit, if you can. Your support is vital to sustaining our local services and combating the issue of wellness deserts. In the case of pharmacy, things will only get worse as the chain pharmacies are in trouble and have announced the closing of over 2,000 stores this year.

In our first year, we faced challenges and growing pains and despite these hurdles, we anticipate ending our calendar year this May with only a modest loss. We are now seeking a fundraising goal of $85,000 to help complete our first year and to provide the foundation for year two. If we are successful in meeting this challenge from either donations or grants, our vision of “hope” for other community pharmacies in rural America will be fulfilled. Our story is being followed closely by a documentary team and the profession of pharmacy. The support we have received from the community has been heartening, and we are grateful for the positive feedback about the beautiful atmosphere of our location.

Special thanks to Jay Jacobs and the Timber Lake Camp and Shandaken Inn for beginning our fundraising challenge, and for Mary and Darrell Fontanot of Mount Tremper for supporting us from the start of our fundraising initiative.  Also, our deep appreciation to Patricia and Mike Ruane, and the many other donors, volunteers and organizations that have given us grants to expand our services. Together all combined, their efforts have allowed us to raise $245,000 to date which has clearly demonstrated the grit of our small and vibrant community.

Our success is measured in many ways but most importantly in the lives we touch and the impact we make here in Shandaken. We have become a beacon of “hope” for other connected communities, garnering attention from local public officials, the Hudson Valley media and press, and many other organizations. As a messenger of “hope”, we must seize this moment and expand our services to meet the growing needs of our community.

Wellness Rx Phoenicia is so much more than a typical pharmacy, it is a comprehensive wellness center with fulfilling your wellness needs in mind. Yes, we offer traditional pharmacy services with a large emphasis on natural medicine and treatment. We received a seed grant from Ulster Savings Bank’s Charitable Foundation for our mental health counseling program, and a grant from The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley to kickoff our nutritional counseling program.

Our expansion plans include at-home care, student training, emergency medicine, and outreach to the less fortunate. In our second and third years, we aim to roll out and strengthen additional services, such as "Wellness Rx on Wheels" – delivering prescriptions, vaccinations and wellness services to those in need. We take pride in offering free consultations for overall wellness, and we thank you for your positive responses.

We thank the Town of Shandaken for all their support and especially thank State Senator Michelle Hinchey for her unwavering support at our Grand Opening who said, “Something that I'm really excited about is working closely with Ed, as we have been keeping in communication," she said. "Working closely with and seeing what it is that they need and seeing the types of grant programs that we should be elevating to actually bring in a deeper, stronger healthcare system into our rural areas.”

Recently, United States Congressman, Marc Molinaro visited Shandaken and held a meeting at America’s first nonprofit community pharmacy and wellness center to review our progress, concept and shared his thoughts,  “Wellness Rx Pharmacy in Phoenicia is one-of-a-kind, blending a traditional pharmacy with holistic health initiatives that incorporate physical and mental health,” Molinaro said. “There’s tremendous potential with replicating this model across the state, and I welcome plans to bring one to New Lebanon. The project is still in its early stages, and I will be doing everything I can on the federal level to support its growth.”

To continue serving you and expanding our vital services, we need to meet our fundraising goal of $85,000 in the next few months. Your generous contributions will ensure the continued success of Wellness Rx Phoenicia, a Pharmacy for the Public Good, and make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of Shandaken residents going forward.

Please consider making a donation today!

Checks can be made payable to Pharmacy for the Public Good, Inc., note “Phoenicia” in the memo.  You can drop off your donation at 53 Main Street, Phoenicia, NY 12464, or mail it to Pharmacy for the Public Good, Post Office Box 211, Phoenicia, NY 12464.

Other ways to donate:

Pay Pal Giving Fund  https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/4651584

Or scan the QR code:

Together, we must show that a little community in the heart of the Catskill Mountains of New York can dare to be different and lead the way. We must build a healthier, stronger community for now and the next generations to come.

Ed Ullmann

Executive Director and Pharmacist

Wellness Rx, Pharmacy for the Public Good