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Company to give free vitamins
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Garry Mrozek, CEO of Hometown Pharmacy Solutions, has a laugh with Struthers Elementary School first-grader Bill Torreance during the start of Hometown Pharmacy’s Healthy Kids Free Vitamin Program.
STRUTHERS
Children in nine area schools may have a little more pep in their step in the coming weeks.
Students age 5 to 12 are eligible to receive free vitamins through a partnership between The Hometown Pharmacy and the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
The program, called Healthy Kids Free Vitamins, kicked off Monday at Struthers Elementary School.
Other school districts and schools involved are Boardman, Austintown, Poland, Columbiana, Struthers, Springfield, Youngstown City, South Range and Holy Family.
Under the program, a parent or guardian may visit any Hometown Pharmacy, provide some basic demographic information, and begin receiving a monthly supply of free, chewable multivitamins for each child in the family.
A punch card with 12 punches on it will be given to each participant and will be marked each time the vitamins are picked up. Each punch is worth 30 days of free vitamins, which are provided to Hometown Pharmacy by the National Vitamin Co.
Garry Mrozek, chief executive officer of Hometown Pharmacy Solutions, said he learned of a similar program in Huntsville, Ala., and thinks Hometown’s is the first such program in Ohio.
“There is no catch. We’re doing this through United Way. We believe if kids get the right nutrients, they will stay healthier and go to school more and learn more,” said Mrozek, who is a member of the local United Way board of directors.
He said Hometown Pharmacy will send out 12,200 information packets to parents this week by which time the vitamins will be available.
United Way is involved because the organization believes the Health Kids Free Vitamins initiative is another way to make a positive impact on the community, said Bob Hannon, United Way executive director.
“It is a perfect fit for United Way’s objective of nurturing the lives of children,” he said.
“This is wonderful,” said Maggie Kowach, Struthers Elementary School principal. “I’m glad they love the kids as much as we do. This is a wonderful way to help kids and goes well with our Healthy Schools Initiative,” she said.
Hometown Pharmacy, established 11 years ago as a family business, has six retail locations in Northeast Ohio and two in Western Pennsylvania. The Ohio locations are Cornersburg, 3623 S. Meridian Road, Youngstown; 906 N. State St., Girard; 655 Creed St., Struthers; 1135 Western Reserve Road, Poland; 7156 Warren-Sharon Road, Brookfield; and 1108 Village Plaza, Columbiana.