Dellwood Pharmacy

COVID-19, Minority-owned business, Woman-owned business

Microlender:

Justine PETERSEN

Impact:

PPP Loan retained their 4 person staff during the pandemic

Location:

St. Louis, MO

Loan Amount:

$16,000

Dellwood Pharmacy is located in north St. Louis County in an area that is considered a “pharmacy desert,” where in recent years two major chain pharmacies have closed. Rebecca Mawuenega first came to Justine PETERSEN to access an SBA Community Advantage loan to acquire the community pharmacy that had been in business for 13 years.

Subsequently, COVID-19 led to a 40% plummeting in sales revenue. Rebecca reached out to Justine PETERSEN for a PPP loan that allowed her to retain her 4 person staff. “It was crucial for my business to receive a PPP loan in a timely fashion.”

As a critical health care access point for an underserved community, the pharmacy has been highlighted in the Wall Street Journal and in local St. Louis news for its role in the community providing critical COVID vaccines.

“The unvaccinated people are the ones suffering right now and we must reach them now,” said Rebecca Mawuenyega, the Lead Pharmacist at Dellwood Pharmacy told NBC news affiliate KSDK.

For the past two months, Mawuenyega and her small team have been on a big, life-saving mission: get more people in north St. Louis County vaccinated against COVID-19.