Empty prescription pill containers continue to pour in as corporations, medical, civic, community, school, scouting and church groups join with individuals all across the U.S. and Canada in this endeavor.
NOTE: THE PILL CONTAINER PROGRAM HAS ENDED.
While the original request reached a Facebook audience of over 5 million people, the exposure and response has continued to grow as the story continues to be shared. One example comes from the efforts of Stephanie Brunetti, a nursing student in Santa Cruz Country, California. She reports her astonishing success in her campaign to gather prescription containers.
“Earlier this year I learned about the Malawi Project. I was immediately drawn to the whole idea of the campaign to gather empty prescription vials for Malawi. I wanted to help in some way. Who would ever think my trash could help someone with a need people in America never think about?”
“In May I graduated from nursing school and decided during my last semester I would collect medicine vials. I live in Santa Cruz, California and recycling is high in our community. I knew if people understood the project they would jump to help. I thought in a few weeks I could gather a few hundred containers. I ended up with 2,232 vials in 3 weeks! Wow! I was shocked. I had now been out of school for 6 weeks and they just keep arriving. Because the average woman in Malawi has 5.26 children that means the safety of these vials can protect 11,740 children from exposed, unsecured medications.”
“I was recently contacted by two health programs and talked with the local sheriff that runs a drug take back program. We are working on ways to set up HIPAA compliant collection boxes in the county, as well as ways to get the shipment funded so we can continue the program. Thanks to the Malawi Project for starting this amazing programs, and to everyone who is putting their heart into helping.”