"Help Is Here Express" Makes a Stop in Williamson

The Help Is Here Express; bus made a stop in Williamson on Wednesday helping Mingo County residents with prescription medication needs. But the help did not stop there. While in the area,
representatives from the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) made a generous donation of $2,500 to the Tug Valley Friendship Foundation.

The big orange bus was parked at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College's Williamson Campus for two hours during which a variety of prescription assistance was provided by PPA representatives.

Wanda Moebius, senior director for communications and public affairs for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in Washington, D.C. said, "For more than a year and a half, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies, has been traveling across America helping people who can not afford the medicines they need, get their medicines for free or nearly free."

The Help is Here Express,and its sister bus, have been to all 50 states from Fairbanks, Alaska to Miami, Florida…from Portland, Maine to Honolulu, Hawaii, and more than 600 cities in between this year alone. And the PPA has helped more than 3.1 million Americans along the way.

On behalf of PPA, Moebius presented the Tug Valley Friendship Foundation Treasurer Harold Davis, with a check for $2,500. Davis said the foundation has bought gifts for approximately 400 needy children this year and the $2,500 donation would help buy gifts for an additional 150 children in our area.

The Tug Valley Friendship Foundation recently held its Fourth Annual Celebrity Dinner and Auction Gala at the Williamson Fire Department. The event, headed up by the Hannah family and foundation members, is always a huge success. "And we will make sure this donations well spent," Davis said.

Several other members of the Tug Valley Friendship Foundation were on hand for the check presentation including Williamson Mayor Darrin McCormick, Sheriff Lonnie Hannah, Ina Mahon, Ray Scites, Jane Carter, A.J. Ryan, David Baisden, along with Delegates Harry Keith White and Steven Kominar. Through their efforts and the West Virginia Legislature, a program was created setting the standard for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Southern's representatives Communications Director Cindy Crigger, Williamson Campus Director of Operations Rita Roberson and Director for Development Ron Lemon, assisted in bringing the groups together at the Williamson Campus.

"PPA is a friend and neighbor. That's why America'S pharmaceutical research companies and the PPA are proud to partner with the Tug Valley Friendship Foundation to bring the 'Help is Here Express' to Williamson and to donate $2,500 to help the organization provide Christmas gifts to area children so they might have a brighter holiday," Moebius said.

Recent news reports tell us that government food donations and private cash donations are down this year. That means that we all have to work a little harder to help those in need.

"We’re happy to be here today to help with this holiday gift, but we will also be here after the 'Help isHere Express' moves on. We know there are thousands more here in West Virginia and millions across the country who can benefit from the Partnership for Prescription Assistance and can find help getting the medicines they need," Moebius said.

America's pharmaceutical research companies along with 1,300 hundred local, state and national partners are proud to have helped so many people find programs that can get them the medicines they need over 70,000 here.