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WESTON – In a heartfelt gathering, a community came together on Saturday morning to express gratitude to a local pharmacist who is relocating following the closure of his Walgreens store, where he had dedicated nearly 30 years of service.
The event was uniquely led by 11-year-old Aarav Khanna, who surprised the pharmacist, Bob Hesselberg, with a generous monetary gift he had raised as a token of appreciation.
Walgreens Closure
The Boston Post Road Walgreens is set to close permanently due to sweeping corporate cuts within the company. Despite the store’s impending closure, a devoted group of customers came out to show their support for Hesselberg, a pharmacist who has become a cherished figure in the community.
“It’s humbling. I can’t believe it. It’s amazing,” said Hesselberg, who is 75 years old and has no intention of retiring just yet. “I don’t want to retire; I’m not ready for it.”
Hesselberg will be moving to a Walgreens location in Waltham. Aaron Khanna, who rides the school bus that stops near the store, explained his motivation for the fundraising effort. “I’ve seen the amount of kindness and hard work he puts into his job,” he shared.
Fundraising Efforts
Inspired by his admiration for Hesselberg, Aarav decided to raise funds for a farewell gift. The endeavor quickly gained traction, culminating in a check for $6,000 that he presented to Hesselberg, leaving him visibly moved.
During the farewell event, a young girl also contributed to the sentiment by gifting Hesselberg a handmade card. Known affectionately in the community as “Pharmacist Bob,” Hesselberg is recognized not just for his work, but also for the genuine care he extends to his customers. As Carol Ott, a regular customer, stated, “You walk in, and he not only greets you by name, but he wants to know how your family is, and how is that medication you had last time, and how are you doing? And he means it.”
The Weston Walgreens is scheduled to close mid-November, and Hesselberg expressed hope that some of his loyal customers would choose to follow him to Waltham. However, he voiced concern for the older members of the community who may struggle with the longer commute, especially since Walgreens has discontinued home delivery services.
“I’m gonna miss everybody. And I’m very grateful for all of this. And thank you so much,” Hesselberg told the gathering of supporters.
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