Pharmacy starts free vitamin program for kids

Bryan’s attempting to ‘create healthier community.’

LEBANON — A local pharmacy is striving to make the community healthier by starting a free vitamin program for children 12 and younger.

Bryan’s Family Pharmacy, a locally-owned pharmacy located in the Colony Square Shopping Center, is giving away free vitamins to qualifying children ages 5 to 12.

“We live in times where, in a lot of cases, both parents work and everybody’s so busy, it’s hard to sit down to a good healthy meal and make sure your kids are getting all the nutrition they need,” said Bryan Hutcheson, co-owner and namesake of Bryan’s Family Pharmacy. “On top of that, a lot of families can’t afford health insurance, so our pharmacy wanted to provide a way to improve the health of the community.”

Hutcheson’s solution was to provide a free multivitamin to children in the area.

The vitamin contains all the necessary vitamins in a chewable, low-sugar pill, Hutcheson said.

After obtaining some basic information from the parents or guardians, a family can receive a 30-day supply of vitamins for each child in the house. The participants in the program can return each month for a free refill.

The Heathy Foundation’s Vitamin Relief USA-Children First Program has determined that students who were given vitamins on a daily basis had improvements in attention span, attendance, behavior, energy, appetites and acceleration in academics.

“It’s our contribution to the city, Hutcheson said. “Our goal is that through a healthier pharmacy, we can create a healthier community.”

Hutcheson and his wife, Mindy, started Bryan’s Family Pharmacy in 2003. The pharmacy is at 726 E. Main St.

For more information, call the pharmacy at (513) 228-0800.

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