CVS Will Restore Riot-Damaged Baltimore Stores

CVS Health is working to restore 2 pharmacy locations damaged in the Baltimore riot following the death of Freddie Gray.

The pharmacy chain will rebuild its CVS stores at 2560 West Franklin Street and 2509 Pennsylvania Avenue, which had been looted and set on fire, The Baltimore Sun reported.

“As we watched the events unfold in Baltimore over the past week or so, our hearts turned from pain to the promise of what is ahead,” said CVS Health President and CEO Larry Merlo in a press release. “Our purpose as a company is helping people on their path to better health. There is no better way that we can fulfill that purpose than to reopen our doors and get back to serving the community. It is simply the right thing to do.”

The May 6, 2015, announcement did not specify an exact date when the 2 stores will reopen, but Merlo said CVS is working to get them up and running as soon as possible.

“Already our colleagues have been stepping up to welcome customers to our other locations, and I am very proud of all they have done to stand tall and continue to serve,” Merlo said in the statement.

In addition to having other CVS locations employ affected workers, the employees at the damaged CVS locations were paid their typical hourly wage throughout the week of the protests, even if they had not been able to work.

In addition, CVS Health announced it had also made a $100,000 donation to the United Way of Central Maryland’s Maryland Unites Fund and the Baltimore Community Foundation’s Fund for Rebuilding Baltimore.