During this COVID-19 pandemic, B.J. Jones, a 2005 alumnus of Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy, is meeting the needs of his patients and his community by dispensing more than just medicine.

Jones is the pharmacist and owner of Kilpatrick Pharmacy in Crossville, Alabama and Clark’s Pharmacy in Boaz, Alabama. When he heard of the food insecurity the pandemic was causing for many families in his community, he didn’t hesitate to step in and help. At the Kilpatrick location, Jones and his team partnered with DeKalb County superintendent James Barnett to distribute meals. 

“Our area is one with a high poverty level. There is also a large Hispanic population here and many of the children normally get two of their daily meals at the school, which is no longer in session,” Jones said. “We helped pack and distribute over 1,200 meals to families with children in need from our area.”

In a time when social distancing is required, Jones had the idea of converting the pharmacy’s drive-thru window into food distribution site. “It was an easy solution for getting this needed food to our community,” he said. “I can't tell you how grateful many of these families were to receive these meals.”

The response was so great he had to coordinate with the local fire department to direct traffic.

I think everyone who gets into health care has a servant's heart, but I know my time at Samford only amplified mine,” Jones said.