Operation Medicine Cabinet this Saturday

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

Have old medicine and you're not sure what to do with it? Home Instead Senior Care has the answer.

The Salisbury agency is hosting its second Operation Medicine Cabinet, a program designed to provide seniors and their families with a safe way to dispose of expired or no longer used prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Home Instead, along with the Salisbury Police Department and Rufty-Holmes Senior Center will be conducting this "Drive up, Drop off and Drive out" event on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, 1120 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Salisbury.

Anyone with medicines to discard can place them in a bag, drive through and drop them off. Home Instead volunteers will be on hand to collect the medicines. Salisbury police officers will oversee collection and proper disposal of the medications.

Operation Medicine Cabinet is a way to help protect seniors from accidentally using expired medication and safeguard them from potential theft from their homes, a statement said.

This project also helps protect the environment and water supply by providing a safe way to dispose of prescription drugs.

The first Operation Medicine Cabinet was held in April. Volunteers collected 69 pounds of pills and 19 pounds of needles. All prescription bottles were donated to be sterilized and reused by the Community Care Clinic and for mission trips.

Home Instead will also conduct an Operation Medicine Cabinet event at the Mocksville Senior Center on Saturday.

For more information about the Salisbury collection, contact Robin Perry, community services director of Home Instead Senior Care, at 704-636-2010.