If you still need to get something for that special pharmacy technician, or if you’re looking for a way to spread some joy and compassion this season, it’s not too late. Here are just a few ideas to “give the gift of giving” throughout the holidays or into the New Year.
Pharmacy Technician Memberships/Certifications
If you are specifically looking for a way to treat a pharmacy technician in your life, you could:
- Offer to pay for their membership fees with a professional association, whether they are renewing or considering joining for the first time. For example, the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) is offering a 50% off December special. To find out more about some relevant organizations, visit our Pharmacy Technicians Regulators and Associations page.
- Offer to pay for their certification exam application fees (i.e. through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or National Healthcare Association).
- Offer to pay for a Continuing Education course they may be interested in to upgrade their skills or that is required to maintain certification.
Donations to Non-Profits/Charities
You could make a donation in someone’s name as a gift (or in memory of someone) or also as a way for yourself to support a worthy cause. Many charitable organizations enable donations to be made on behalf of someone; but if this option does not exist, you can always make your own certificate of giving demonstrating you thought of that person when you made the donation.
Here are just some examples of non-profits/charities that pharmacy technicians and other members of the healthcare industry, as well as the community at large, may be passionate about.
- Chapters Health System: Their non-profit LifePath Hospice and Good Shepherd Hospice organizations offer holistic care by a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacy techs, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, social services specialists and more. They collect donations so that those clients who cannot afford it can still benefit from their services.
- National Organization for Rare Disorders: NORD’s mission is to advance research and treatments/cures for rare disorders; there are over 6,000 rare disorders that affect approximately 25 million people in the U.S.
- Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation: The ALSF strives to find cures for and raise awareness about childhood cancer. It was created by Alexandra Scott and carried on by her parents. When Alexandra died when she was 8 years old her efforts had fundraised more than $1 million.
- State Pharmacy/Pharmacist Associations: Find out about your state’s pharmacy or pharmacists association/society (which often seek to advance the profession and provide resources to pharmacy techs and other pharmacy professionals as well). As non-profits, some seek donations.
