NC MedAssist will hold a free mobile pharmacy event at the Kings Mountain National Guard Armory on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The mobile pharmacy is open to any area low-income individual or family needing free health screenings, education and/or over-the-counter medications, and will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Identification is not required to participate.
Individuals can receive up to 10 medicine cabinet items for their family/home. Additionally, participants will receive other free healthcare services, such as information about the NC MedAssist free pharmacy program and community health resources.
"NC MedAssist's overall goal is to help ease the burden for those who are making the choice between buying food or purchasing medication," says Kristin Young, foundations and communications director for NC MedAssist.
Another service offered at the event will be free vision screenings, provided by Envolve's Vision Van.
"Vision screenings are open to adults and children at no cost, regardless of insurance coverage," says Young. "If prescription glasses are needed, the participants will pick out their own frames on-site, and their glasses will be mailed to their home address within a few weeks." Vision screening will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis, and parental/guardian consent is required for anyone under the age of 18.
The event is staffed almost entirely by volunteers.
"Serving so many individuals in one day takes many hands to make sure the event runs smoothly and ensures that all participants are served before the door closes," says Young. "NC MedAssist is partnering with Carolina Complete Health and other safety-net organizations to recruit community members to serve in roles such as pharmacy consultant, client 'personal shoppers' and sorters."
Anyone who would like to volunteer is asked to visit
www.medassist.org to sign up.
Founded in 1997, NC MedAssist is a statewide non-profit pharmacy that provides free prescription medicines to low-income uninsured North Carolinians. NC MedAssist offers three programs that address the needs of children and adults: the free pharmacy program, the mobile free pharmacy and the senior care program. To learn more about NC MedAssist and find out how to get involved, visit www.medassist.org or search for "NC MedAssist" on Facebook or Twitter.

By April Hoyle Shauf

Special to Community First Media