The Dream Vault will provide free,
high-quality produce to more than 175 local households per
week
CHICAGO, Oct. 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To improve health equity and
food security in the Chicago
market, Walgreens is joining forces with non-profit Dion's
Chicago Dream to host a Dream Vault smart locker at the company's
Gage Park location at
55th and Kedzie (5435 S. Kedzie Avenue Chicago, IL). The Dream Vault is part of a
collaboration between Dion's Chicago Dream and Walgreens to provide
free, high-quality produce to more than 275 Chicagoland
households-in-need – about 1,000 residents – every week.
Earlier this year, Walgreens began sponsoring Dream Deliveries,
the nonprofit's weekly fresh produce delivery service, for 100
households in the city. Through the addition of Dream Vault, the
collaboration will expand its reach to an additional 175
households, meeting the goal of reaching 275 Chicagoland
households-in-need.
"Walgreens is proud to partner with Dion's Chicago Dream to
support families in our Gage Park
neighborhood. As a Chicago-based
health and well-being company, we are pleased that for almost 125
years we have provided access to essential services such as
prescriptions, immunizations, and over-the-counter medications. Our
trusted products, ranging from vitamins to skincare, help our
customers feel their best—inside and out," said Tracey Brown, Executive Vice President and
President, Walgreens Retail and Chief Customer Officer. "By
collaborating with local organizations like Dion's Chicago Dream,
we aim to make a lasting impact and foster a healthier, more
vibrant community for everyone."
Unveiled by Dion's Chicago Dream last year, the Dream Vault is a
network-enabled bank of lockers designed to serve up to 200
households living within a one-mile radius with a week-long supply
of fresh fruits and vegetables, at no cost to them. Recipients
enter a code to pick up their free box of healthy produce.
"At one point in my life, I was a returning military veteran
struggling to make ends meet. That's one reason why we put our
Dream Vaults in places like Walgreens that provide the goods and
services we need to thrive. Retail pharmacies are a great example
of this," said Dion Dawson, Founder
and Chief Dreamer of Dion's Chicago Dream. "My vision is that our
Dream Vault participants never have to choose between eating
healthy and buying their medication, or any other basic
need."
Food insecurity is a serious problem in Gage Park, where nearly
21% of residents lack reliable, consistent access to healthy food
(2019 data).
Walgreens installed the Dream Vault on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Households within a
1-mile radius of the Walgreens store will be invited to participate
in the program.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is included in the U.S.
Retail Pharmacy and U.S. Healthcare segments of Walgreens
Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare,
pharmacy and retail leader. True to its purpose of "more joyful
lives through better health," Walgreens has a more than
120-year heritage of caring for communities and providing trusted
pharmacy services, and today is playing a greater role as an
independent partner of choice offering healthcare services that
improve care, lower costs, and help patients. Operating nearly
9,000 retail locations across the U.S. and Puerto
Rico, Walgreens is proud to serve nearly 9 million
customers and patients daily. The company's pharmacists are playing
a more critical role in healthcare than ever before, providing a
wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services, including those
that drive equitable access to care for some of the nation's most
underserved populations. Walgreens offers customers and
patients a true omnichannel experience, with fully integrated
physical and digital platforms designed to deliver high-quality
products and healthcare services. Within the U.S. Healthcare
segment, Walgreens portfolio also includes businesses in
primary care, multi-specialty, post-acute care, urgent care,
specialty pharmacy services, population health and provider
enablement.
About Dion's Chicago Dream
Dion's Chicago Dream
(https://dionschicagodream.com/) is a nonprofit social enterprise
committed to combating food insecurity and transforming lives by
centering health equity. Our mission is to provide fresh,
nutritious food and create sustainable solutions for a brighter,
healthier future.
Media Contact: Carina
Daniels
carina@storyandreach.com
510-847-1617
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SOURCE Dion's Chicago Dream
