Boston, Mass. – Exhibitors at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Total Store Expo donated more than four tons (8,400 lbs.) of consumer goods to be dispersed to various charitable organizations throughout the Greater Boston community.

NACDS worked with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s (MCCA) Conventions C.A.R.E. (Community Assistance by Responsible Events) program, which is distributing the products to local nonprofit organizations to be dispersed to those in need.  Conventions C.A.R.E. was established by the MCCA in 2010 to benefit local non-profits, convention and trade show exhibitors, and convention centers. Local nonprofits benefit from useful donations, while exhibitors are saved the time and expense of shipping goods after a show ends. The MCCA and its partners in turn help divert these items from local landfills, which supports the Authority’s commitment to sustainable practices.

Exhibitors operating at the annual NACDS Total Store Expo, held last week at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, donated products following the convention.  The donations included health and hygiene products such as medications, bandages, vitamins, cough syrup, and other first aid supplies.

“During these challenging economic times, we are deeply grateful to NACDS’ associate member companies for their product contributions to help those in need in Boston’s communities,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE.  “NACDS is grateful to have a partner in the MCCA’s Conventions C.A.R.E. program to distribute these goods to local nonprofit groups and health centers.”

“As an operator of two large convention facilities, we have a responsibility to do what we can to reduce wastefulness, implement green practices, and be supportive of Boston’s communities,” said James E. Rooney executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which owns and operates the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center.  “The donations resulting from the Total Store Expo is a prime example of how events can have a direct, positive impact on our communities, and we are extremely grateful to NACDS and its exhibitors for their willingness to partner with us and donate such a large amount of health and consumer goods to local community health centers.”

Some of the nonprofit social service agencies that are benefitting from the contribution from NACDS are:

• South End Community Health Center
• Whittier Street Health Center
• Dimock Health Center
• Brookside Health Center
• South Boston Health Center
• Boston Healthcare for the Homeless
• Gavin Foundation

“These items will help us bridge the gap in our budget. These donations are necessary for our clients and we don’t have the funding to purchase them,” said Linda Doran of the South Boston Community Health Center.
This release also is available on the NACDS website.

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About the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)
NACDS represents traditional drug stores and supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies. Chains operate more than 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS’ 125 chain member companies include regional chains, with a minimum of four stores, and national companies. Chains employ more than 3.8 million individuals, including 175,000 pharmacists. They fill over 2.7 billion prescriptions yearly, and help patients use medicines correctly and safely, while offering innovative services that improve patient health and healthcare affordability. NACDS members also include more than 800 supplier partners and nearly 40 international members representing 13 countries. For more information, visit www.NACDS.org.

About the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA)

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority owns and oversees the operations of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, the MassMutualCenter in Springfield, MA and the Boston Common Parking Garage.  The BCEC and Hynes have earned a rare gold standard from the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC), making Boston only the fourth city in North America and the 12th worldwide to have been awarded this top standard, the highest certification level a convention facility can achieve under strict AIPC guidelines.
Pharmacies.

                                                                      The face of neighborhood healthcare.