East Hampton Town is urging Montauk residents facing difficulties obtaining medicines in the wake of the closing of White's Drug and Department Store to take advantage of its Senior Shopping Assistance Program.
White's closed at the end of October, and the next iteration of a pharmacy isn't slated to open until Dec. 15 at the earliest.
Through the town program, people 60 and up can have town employees from the Human Services Department pick up prescriptions from pharmacies and deliver them to their houses. (Grocery shopping help is also available through the same program.) The phone number to call is 631-324-4443.
"We are proud to stand with Montauk seniors during this challenging moment," Town Councilman Tom Flight said in a statement. "Our community has always been one that supports each other, and this program is a testament to the town's commitment to making sure all our residents — especially our seniors — have access to the services they need, no matter the circumstances."
Frank Calvo, the longtime pharmacist at White's, has already announced plans to open Montauk Chemists, a new facility to be located on Main Street next to John's Pancake House.
Reached by phone on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Calvo said he is "delighted" to hear the town has the ability to help people obtain their prescriptions. "There are a lot of people that are struggling," he said.
His exact opening date is still uncertain, but Mr. Calvo said he's working hard to make it happen by mid-December.
"I'm on target with everything with the state, but I can't do anything until all of the fixtures in the pharmacy are set. That will all be installed and ready in the next two weeks," he said. "Progress is being made. Little steps — it goes fast, then it goes slow, then it's going really fast, and then it goes slow again. I've felt every emotion you can think of over the past week, from happy to sad to excited to miserable, but it's all looking good."
This story has been updated to correct the location of the new pharmacy.