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CANTON, Ohio: Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital has donated a physician office building near the hospital to Beacon Charitable Pharmacy to help it continue its work to provide low-cost prescription medications to members of the community.

“We are pleased to be putting this building back to use for the benefit of the community and to an organization that traces its roots to Mercy Hospital’s founders, the Sisters of Charity Foundation,” said Mercy Hospital President Timothy Crone, M.D. “Beacon Charitable Pharmacy does life-changing work in helping match donated medications with people who truly need them.”

The one-story building, located at 2525 13^th Street NW in Canton, has not been used in several years. Beacon plans to spend more than $1 million to renovate the building to suit its needs.

“This is a wonderful gift that Cleveland Clinic is contributing to the community. It will help us greatly expand our ability to serve uninsured and underinsured residents of Stark and Carroll counties, enabling them to have steady access to a pharmacy to receive their medications, education and other support they may need,” said Carol Risaliti, executive director of Beacon Charitable Pharmacy.

In 2022, more than 2,300 uninsured and underinsured residents of Stark, Carroll and Lorain counties who have low or moderate incomes received nearly 25,000 prescriptions from Beacon. The wholesale value of those medications was more than $4 million. Risaliti said that by providing access to medications, the pharmacy allows its clients to use their money on other necessities. Many clients have chronic health conditions and ensuring they have their medications also reduces their need for hospitalization or other costly care.

“It makes a big impact in their lives,” she said.

Beacon is currently operating in about 4,100 square feet of rented space at Ken Weber Goodwill Community Campus on 9th Street SW in Canton. The new 5,800-square-foot building is larger and will allow Beacon to expand its services, which include a pharmacy, immunizations, counseling, education about medications and help with issues that affect clients’ health, such as food insecurity and addiction.

“We are pleased that the new building will be more like a storefront pharmacy, making it easier for our clients to find,” Risaliti said. “The location is also very accessible, right off of I-77, 62 and 30, along bus routes, and near many physician offices and the two hospitals in Canton.”

Beacon started out in 2002 as the Prescription Assistance Network of Stark County. It was collaboratively funded by the Sisters of Charity Foundation and the Austin-Bailey Health and Wellness Foundation to increase local access to prescription medications. It was the second charitable pharmacy in the state.

Ninety-five percent of the medications Beacon dispenses are donated. The medications are managed and distributed by Beacon’s pharmacy team.

“We greatly appreciate the relationship and support we have had with Goodwill and will continue to serve the neighborhood through outreach services at Christ Presbyterian Church, Refuge of Hope and Goodwill,” Risaliti said.