Local nonprofit hands out free flu medicine in drive-thru event as cases spike
Local nonprofits spent Friday morning handing out free flu medicine in a giveaway event as viruses spike.
Camino Health Center, a bilingual and multicultural nonprofit in northeast Charlotte, worked with other organizations to offer free over-the-counter medicine.
In the drive thru event, recipients were given bags with vitamins, children’s items and flu meds.
The event comes as some pharmacies in the area are having problems filling prescriptions of crucial drugs due to shortages, including common medicines for children, such as amoxicillin.
The latest data from the CDC indicates that North Carolina’s flu levels are very high, along with the rest of the South. The event was organized to help keep people out of the emergency room.
“With the cost of everything and inflation, we’re always happy to help out in whatever way we can,” said Lisa Szabo with NC Med Assist.
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Jeannie Corzo, who works to supply refugee families with medicine, said the the giveaway is a blessing.
“It’s just amazing how helpful it is,” Corzo said. “Especially during the winter time, when people have more need for these medications it’s such a blessing, such a blessing.”
In Friday’s event alone, over 1,000 families were helped. Officials said no financial documents or ID are required.
Even though the event is over, there are still ways to get free medicine. Once a month, you can shop at the MedAssist OTC Free Store, which offers free items.
“It’s no different than Walgreens or CVS, you can shop there once a month for free,” Szabo said. “You can get eight items of your choosing. Our free OTC store is based on need. So we don’t ask for financial documents, ID, so everyone is welcome.”
You can learn more about the MedAssist OTC Free Store store and how you can get supplies here.
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