Organization gives hope to uninsured

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- Dispensary of Hope touches lives all across the country, but Bridgeport has the only site in Connecticut offering 100 percent hope to people without prescription coverage. 

"Proudly proclaim, Tuesday, November 20, 2012, as the Hope Dispensary Day in the city of Bridgeport..."

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch added to the celebration of a major milestone for Dispensary of Hope. It has been a year since the national organization opened its doors to the uninsured, many unemployed, in the Bridgeport area.

"There's a tremendous need out there and at the same time in our country we throw an awful lot of very useable medication, unexpired, unopened, unprescribed medication," said Chris Palombo, Dispensary of Hope CEO.

Surplus medication donated by area physicians, pharmacies and drug companies.
  
"Very difficult for someone chronically ill and in need of medication for a long period of time," said Palombo.

Patti Martin is getting the prescription drug she needs to cope with mental health issues.

"One of them is over $700 a month," Martin said. "I wouldn't be as affective as a mother. I have a special needs daughter and it's necessary, it's a lifesaver."

It's a community outreach, embraced by many including St. Vincent's and Bridgeport hospitals.
 
"One person's waste is another person's resource," Mayor Finch said.
         
In the past 12 months, over $200,000 of necessary prescriptions were given out to more than 1,700 people.  

The group wants to use Bridgeport as a model to expand the free prescription program to other parts of the state.    
 
There is also a push to get more area physicians to take part and donate medication.