CVS, Community Hypocrites

On November 17th the following memo was distributed to the George Washington University Medical School and School of Public Health:

TO: GWUMC Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: John F. Williams, MD, MPH, EdD
SUBJECT: Food & Friends “Slice of Life”
DATE: November 13, 2008

Dear Medical Center Colleagues:

At this time of year, I am especially grateful to members of the GW Medical Center community and for our collective work that contributes to the health and well-being of the world around us. I am also more mindful of the individuals that we serve. Those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other critical illnesses suffer not only from pain and symptoms of their diseases, but from financial concerns due to loss of work and medical bills and daily strain to accomplish simple tasks like shopping or preparing a healthy meal.

This Thanksgiving season, the GW Medical Center has partnered with Food & Friends, a non-profit organization that prepares, packages and delivers meals and groceries to people in the greater Washington area who live with life-challenging illnesses. This year, Food & Friends will deliver full holiday meals to approximately 3,500 clients and their families in the region battling diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer. That’s an astonishing number that speaks to the enormous needs of our neighbors.

I invite you to join me in participating in Food & Friends’ annual “Slice of Life” bake sale. We can help make a difference in the lives of thousands of men, women and children simply by purchasing our holiday pies from Food & Friends. You can buy pumpkin, apple crumb, pecan, or creamy chocolate cheesecake--for your own holiday gathering, or donate them to Food & Friends’ clients to be included with their Thanksgiving meal. The proceeds from each pie will go directly to Food & Friends, allowing them to continue their vital work in our communities.


If you would like to participate, simply call (202) 269-6826 or click here to be directed to the GW Medical Center Team page on the Slice of Life website. You can also find more details on the Slice of Life posters hung around Ross Hall and the GW Hospital. The pies will be available for pick-up on Tuesday, November 25, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at one of 16 CVS pharmacy locations that you select throughout the District and in nearby Virginia and Maryland. As an added benefit for participating, if the GW Medical Center team sells more than 100 pies, our order will be delivered directly to campus.

Please join me in supporting Food & Friends in this worthy endeavor. To date, the GW Medical Center Team has raised $125 for this event—I’m sure we can add to that number. Thank you to those who have already made a purchase. It is my hope that the GW Medical Center community can make a significant contribution to this organization again this year through our support.

With thanks,

John F. Williams, MD, EdD, MPH Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs

PS: The pies are really delicious too!

CVS, WHY are you sponsoring a "slice of life" when you restrict access to condoms that prevent illnesses like HIV/AIDS that plaque the DC community that are you so "generously" serving?

REMOVE THE CONDOMS FROM THE CLICK BOXES and UNLOCK THE CONDOMS. The people of this community would prefer to NOT contract HIV/AIDS in the FIRST PLACE!