Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 1-12-18

Features
Meeting Planned For Student Summer Camp
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Each summer, parents find themselves trying to find afford- able places for their children. In addition to looking for a safe en- vironment, they also look for a place where their children can learn.
Ralph Smith, Founder and Executive Director of Computer Mentors, Inc., hopes to partner with local organizations to pro- vide summer camps for students.
Smith and Computer Men- tors have partnered with The Skills Center and Bethesda Min- istries to address the issue. The partners will host a collaboration meeting for agencies and providers who are interested in hosting summer camps in 2018.
The meeting will take place on Friday, January 19th, at 10 a.m. It will be held at the Skills Center, 300 E. Sligh Avenue, Blvd., G, Tampa, 33604.
Smith said the Children’s Board has allocated $500,000
for summer programs and each organization can receive a grant of up to $30,000.
Its purpose is in preparation to respond to a request for pro- posal issued by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. “This year, the Children’s Board has a focus on Safety, Literacy, Science, Technology, Engineer- ing and Math (STEM), Character Development, Sports and Visual or Performing Arts.
Those provider who have a concentration in any of those areas are encouraged to attend the meeting.”
Smith further stated that they are encouraging both those who would like to provide sum- mer camp services as well as those intending to host a summer camp to attend the meeting.
The meeting is open to the public. However, anyone plan- ning to attend is asked to RSVP. For additional information con- tact Smith at (813) 236-1191 or via email at RSmith@computer- mentors.org.
Pharmacy To Give Community A ‘New Experience’
Health Matters Pharmacy, LLC, will open its doors on Tuesday, January 16th; will kick off with the Dr. King Parade on Monday
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Going to the pharmacy, or drug store as we like to refer to it, is often a chore, especially if we’re ill. First of all, we have a prescription, don’t know with it is, or what it will do, and often- times can’t get the answers we’re looking for. Then, we want to know how long it will take to fill the prescription. Most times, too long.
Dr. Vondalyn Crawford,
PharmD, says after 20 years of humble beginnings (she grew up in Tampa’s Central Park Village Complex) and 20 years of experi- ence with Corporate America, she is prepared to offer the com- munity ‘a new experience in the pharmacy.’ She will be opening the doors to her pharmacy on Tuesday morning, January 16, 2018. However, the pharmacy will kick off at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade on Mon- day, January 15th. The Grand Opening will be announced later.
The pharmacy is located at 1702 N. 50th St., Tampa (33619).
DR. VONDALYN CRAWFORD, PharmD
By the time she was 21 years old, Dr. Crawford was a single mother of 2 sons, with what she described as “a seemingly dead- end job.” However, that was not a hindrance. “With my sons as my motivation, I completed my Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy at FAMU (2008),” she said. Those young sons are now Rayquan, 21, a student at FAMU, and Sam, 18, a high school senior. She also has the support of her fi- ancé, Marlon Wright.
When she’s not taking care of pharmacy duties, Dr. Crawford is active with their non-profit or- ganization, “A Wright Hand Up,” and with the National Diamond-
back Pharmacy Alumni Associa- tion (FAMU).
Having worked in various po- sitions and with several compa- nies, even as pharmacy manager, Dr. Crawford said as an inde- pendent pharmacist, she’ll be ac- cessible to her customers, and she can explain the medications they’ll be getting.
“I’ll have more leverage with my customers. I’ll be the drug ex- pert on staff. With the larger companies, your time is limited and there may be limitations on what you can discuss,” she ex- plained. She hopes to bring back the feel of the community when there was College Hill Pharmacy, she said: “A place where you can get the older remedies.”
Services at Health Matters Pharmacy include: Prescription Drugs, Free Delivery, Immuniza- tion (including Travel Vaccina- tion) and Flu Shots.
“We accept most insurances, therefore your co-pay will remain the same. We’re set to serve the community as an access center to help our patients with Medicaid, Medicare, and Food Stamp sign- ups.”
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