A new program is now underway that provides vitamins – free of charge – to any child in Clinton County.

Arica Collins, owner and pharmacist of Dyer Drug in Albany, said she was made aware of a program that provided chewable multi-vitamins for children and although it costs the local pharmacy some money, the vitamins were available to her at an attractive price and Collins said she felt it would be a good thing to offer them free to local kids.

“I thought it was a good idea to try out locally to help our youth,” Collins noted.

It’s easy and it’s free. All a parent or guardian of any child, ages two through 12, has to do is go by the drug store and sign a registration form and receive a free 30-day supply of children’s multi-vitamins. Once the child is registered they can receive the vitamins (30-day supplies) at no cost each month.

“There’s no limits to the number of children in a household, no purchase necessary and the vitamins are available to every child in the county with no income limits,” she said, noting it was something like a Kid’s Vitamin Club.

Collins stressed there was no income guidelines and no foreseen timeline for the program to be offered, saying there were similar programs in some areas across the country.

“I contacted the right people and although we pay for them (vitamins), we partnered with the right people and hope to make this a community effort,” Collins added.

The program got underway about three months ago and Collins has given flyers the Early Childhood Center and Albany Elementary to give to all children to take home and make parents aware of the free program. Collins also attended a recent meeting of the Board of Education to explain the program.

“Vitamins are not all that expensive,” she noted. However, she continued that vitamins aren’t covered by many insurance companies and that was the driving force behind the concept to make them available to every child from toddler to 12 years available.

If you have a child or children between the ages of two and 12 and would like to receive free vitamins, stop by the drug store and fill out a registration form or for more information contact Collins at 387-6444.