The only local pharmacy and a beloved 100-year-old landmark in Mountainair needs the community’s help to keep its doors open and continue providing prescription drugs to a medically underserved area in Torrance County. A fundraising campaign organized by Maggi Arlet is accepting donations to help Mountainair Meds and More pay off around $20,000 of accumulated debt and remain in business.
Arlet’s GoFundMe page says that she organized the fundraiser for her pharmacist, long-time friend and owner-operator of Mountainair Meds and More, Kathleen West, also known as “KC.” According to Arlet, KC and her supporters are in the process of securing grants to keep the pharmacy open, but in the meantime, they are asking for funds to pay off the accumulated debt.
The rise in prescription medication costs and the “lower and slower reimbursements from patient insurances” have hindered the pharmacy’s process and created financial problems as well as the rise in the minimum wage as explained by KC and Arlet.
“We have seen support through donations from people in the area, as well as suggestions from the Mayor of Mountainair, Peter Nieto,” Arlet said. “I am part of a team of community members who are supporting Kathleen (KC) and the pharmacy by setting up a GoFundMe page, applying for grants, working with the Small Business Administration among other things to get Mountainair Meds and More back on its feet.”
