JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)—As the region continues to heal from Hurricane Helene, a local pharmacy has found a way to help communities in need through its operation, “Appalachians Uniting Appalachia: Watch Us Rise.”
Mooney’s Pharmacy, located in Johnson City, collects donations for surrounding communities recovering from Helene. Chris Lopez, owner of Mooney’s, said the idea came from a simple conversation.
“My wife and I were watching our three wonderful children play,” said Lopez. “And we looked at each other, [and] we realized how many children have lost everything, maybe even their parents and don’t even have a toy to distract them.”
Jonesborough welcomes vendors to “Rising Above-Helping Neighbors in Need” Helene fundraiser Following this conversation, Lopez sent a message to employees organizing the toy drive. But the donations didn’t stop there.
“The very next day, we were contacted about making this donatable pharmacy by ETSU College of Pharmacy,” said Lopez. “They asked if they could house it here. And I said, ‘Absolutely, that’s no problem.”
The idea for “Appalachians Uniting Appalachia: Watch Us Rise” emerged from there.
On Sunday, a group will take a 38-foot trailer of donations to Black Mountain, North Carolina.
While Mooney’s is helping with the event, Lopez doesn’t want the attention on them.
“It’s not about taking credit for anything,” said Lopez. “It’s about just helping these people that are suffering.”
For Lopez, the drive reflects ideals instilled in him by the pharmacy’s original owner, Tom Mooney.
“The entire reason this store has stood for 40 years is because [Mooney] ran this store on faith, family and community,” said Lopez. “And as long as these doors are open, I will promise that this store will be ran off of faith, family and community because that’s the way it stayed for 40 years. And I hope in 40 years I can turn it over to somebody and tell them that exact same thing, and we can continue to help the community and the way that we’re doing right now.”
The clinic is not limited to just North Carolina. Lopez said plans are underway for clinics to be hosted in Tennessee and Virginia.
Mooney’s will continue accepting donations following the weekend trip.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Local News
Comments / 0