Walgreens Donates More Than $60,000 in Merchandise to California Fire Relief Efforts

Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) today is donating more than $60,000 in merchandise to aid evacuees of the California wildfires. The two truckloads of donated merchandise are arriving today at San Diego’s Qualcom Stadium, providing water, sun screen, diapers, baby wipes and dust masks, along with other medical supplies.

“We’re glad to do all we can to help the people of Southern California who have had to evacuate their homes,” said William Hose, Walgreens vice president of store operations for California. “Our thoughts and concern go out to those who have suffered losses.”

All Walgreens drugstores throughout Southern California remain open and are available for evacuees who need prescriptions filled. Walgreens pharmacy patients can refill prescriptions at any Walgreens, so evacuees are encouraged to get to safety first and then go to a Walgreens near their destination.

Walgreens operates 476 drugstores in California.

Walgreens is the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2007 sales of $53.8 billion. The company operates 6,014 stores in 48 states and Puerto Rico, including 77 Happy Harry’s stores in Delaware and surrounding states. Walgreens is expanding its patient-first health care services beyond traditional pharmacy through Walgreens Health Services, its managed care division, and Take Care Health Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary that manages convenient care clinics inside drugstores. 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. and Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC.