Barnes turns community giving into long-term growth

VALDOSTA, Ga. – When Barnes Drug Store launched a 5K in 2009, it was a way to mark the company’s 100th anniversary. Since then, the event has raised nearly $1.6 million for local nonprofits, boosting not only its community involvement but also its employee engagement and long-term growth.

“We help organizations go from one level to the next level,” said Charles Barnes IV, CEO. “A lot of these organizations are fairly young in the community, and they need a major investment, like a facility or labor. We’re able to bring them to that level, giving them that one-time capital investment, and then they’re able to use that to write and get more funds with grants.”

This year, the Barnes Drug Store 5K Fun Run & Splash Dash raised more than $250,000 for Sandy’s House, a 12-month, faith-based residential recovery program in Valdosta, Ga., for women ages 18 and older who are suffering from addiction and need housing, education and spiritual support. About 200 runners, volunteers, vendors, sponsors and other participants were involved.

Caroline Johns, retail pharmacy manager for Barnes Drug Store and race director, says choosing the benefiting organization early allows the company to be spread the workload across eight to 10 months, without compromising its HME, home infusion and retail pharmacy operations.

The 5K’s growth has accelerated sharply in recent years, with 77% of the total raised since 2009 coming in the past four years. Barnes Drug Store provides a matching donation through its foundation – this year donating more than its $100,000 cap.

“We went over $25,000,” said Barnes.

For other HME providers looking to replicate a similar community event, Johns recommends taking “the leap of faith.”

“Be open to small beginnings, keep your perseverance and you'd be surprised by what passions and skill sets your community (and) your team may already have,” she said. “It may not be as challenging as you think and you're not alone.”

The event has also created benefits Barnes did not set out to manufacture, including stronger employee engagement and greater visibility in the community. But he says that only happens when the effort is rooted in something deeper than business development.

“You certainly see side effects,” he said. “I don't know how many people have decided to work for us because they saw this type of effort in the community, but you don't do it because of that. You do it because it's in your heart. You do it because there's a passion there.”