St. Vincent de Paul

To provide prescription medication and wellness education to those in need.

The Pharmacy is a nonprofit agency with an innovative approach to filling a gap in health care services.  Founded in 1998, this tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization has provided free prescription services to more than 5,000 medically needy South Mississippians.  The Pharmacy is sponsored by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization dedicated to working with the poor.  Although sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul, the Pharmacy is independently incorporated.  The Pharmacy does not discriminate by religion, race, ethnicity, sex or age.  The Pharmacy’s staff, Board and people it serves, reflect its community.

The Pharmacy is chartered to serve the Diocese of Biloxi consisting of the seventeen southernmost counties in Mississippi.  In reality, the Pharmacy primarily serves Harrison, Jackson, and Hancock Counties due to the proximity of its pharmacy.  The organization has two pharmacy locations; Biloxi and Hattiesburg. There are two additional extension site locations in Moss Point and Bay St. Louis. The Biloxi location is open to the public on Thursdays from 9-11 am. The Hattiesburg location is by appointment. The extension sites are also by appointment.

The Pharmacy requires applicants to be current residents of its geographic area of service and provide current documentation proving the applicant is unable to secure needed prescription medicine without assistance.  The Pharmacy will provide, at no charge, non-controlled prescription medicine once per month for up to six months at which time the applicant must re-apply by providing updated financial information. In addition to providing prescriptions, the pharmacy serves as a referral network connecting people to other supportive resources such as “Patient Assistance Programs” through the pharmaceutical companies and the Supplemental Assistance program for Medicare Part D.

The Pharmacy is largely staffed (including its 12 pharmacists with the exception of the Executive Director, Program Director, and Social Worker) by volunteers.  Over fifty-five  people make the Pharmacy’s service possible each week with an additional twenty-five people providing support, oversight and fundraising help. The Pharmacy is able to focus 93% of its total budget on direct services to clients.  It is the only service of its kind South Mississippi.