Walgreens Donates Food and Supplies to Baton Rouge Area Shelters in the Wake of Hurricane...

Walgreens Donates Food and Supplies to Baton Rouge Area Shelters in the Wake of Hurricane Gustav

Preparations Being Made for the Expected Arrival of Tropical Storm
Hanna Followed by Hurricane Ike
DEERFIELD, Ill.--(Business Wire)--
Walgreens trucks loaded with food, water and emergency supplies
have arrived in Baton Rouge, La., to aid with continuing Hurricane
Gustav relief efforts. Water, trail mix, granola bars and other snack
items along with infant formula and diapers will be delivered to
storm-weary residents in area shelters.

As one of the areas hit hardest by Gustav, there is still
tremendous need in many Baton Rouge communities. Thousands remain
without electricity, and food and water are still in high demand.
Walgreens was eager to lend a helping hand.

"We're committed to supporting the communities we serve,
especially in their most difficult times," said Walgreens director of
community affairs, John Gremer. "I'm extremely proud of our local
employees and those in our distribution centers who have pulled
together to respond quickly to this city's ongoing needs."

One of the drugstore chain's top priorities is getting any stores
that were closed due to the storm back open and serving residents -
particularly those with immediate medical needs. As of this morning,
all but one of Walgreens 15 Baton Rouge stores are open. Across the
Gulf Coast region, only nine remain closed - down from 69 closed
immediately following the storm.

Preparations are now being made to assist with recovery needs
across the nation's southeast coast with the expected arrival of
Tropical Storm Hanna this weekend and Hurricane Ike next week.
Walgreens is gathering supplies to place on standby for a swift
response to emergency requests.

"Once again, we'll direct critical resources to communities in
need," said Gremer. "We're on alert, and we'll be ready to help
wherever we can."

Walgreens is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2008
sales of $59 billion. The company operates 6,443 drugstores in 49
states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides
the most convenient access to consumer goods and cost-effective health
care services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens
Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division.
Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription
drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a
pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home
Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a
pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and
Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems, which is
comprised of: Take Care Consumer Solutions, managers of 220 convenient
care clinics at Walgreens drugstores, and Take Care Employer
Solutions, managers of worksite-based health and wellness services at
355 employer campuses.

Walgreens
Tiffani Bruce
(847) 914-2962
http://news.walgreens.com

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