Walgreens to Continue Extensive Product Donation Program Supporting America’s Second Harvest and Its Affiliates

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens (NYSE:WAG)(NASDAQ:WAG), the nation’s largest drugstore chain, has renewed its commitment to donate discontinued and mildly distressed products from its distribution centers to America’s Second Harvest, a nationwide network of food banks. Last year, the initiative garnered nearly six million pounds of products, providing approximately eight million people in need with food and a wide range of personal items.

“We have long-standing relationships with many local Second Harvest affiliates, and we applaud the invaluable service they provide in local communities”

Donated items, which are screened for safety, range from a scratched box of cereal or slightly dented canned goods to household supplies, discontinued toiletries and other personal items. While food is always needed, non-food donations are especially valuable because these items can’t be purchased with food stamps.

“We have long-standing relationships with many local Second Harvest affiliates, and we applaud the invaluable service they provide in local communities,” said Walgreens director of community affairs John Gremer. “We know that people often find their way to these food pantries in need of much more than a decent meal for their families. As one of the nation’s largest suppliers of basic necessities, we are delighted to be able to help meet this need.”

During times of economic slowdown, community food banks are faced with even greater challenges meeting increased demand for basic needs. This year, Walgreens hopes to supplement its warehouse donations with additional supplies from stores in several states.

"Because of Walgreens, kids received notebooks, pens and markers," says Judith Gatti, executive director of the Daily Food Bank in Miami. "Imagine parents' relief that their children would have needed school supplies. And everyone needs shampoo, brushes, cleaning supplies and other household items. Walgreens has truly identified itself as an excellent corporate citizen that cares about those less fortunate and contributes to their health and well-being."

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2007 sales of $53.8 billion. The company operates 6,252 drugstores in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and cost-effective health care services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems, which is comprised of: Take Care Consumer Solutions, managers of 172 convenient care clinics at Walgreens drugstores, and Take Care Employer Solutions, managers of worksite-based health and wellness services at more than 370 employer campuses. Through these growing services and its drugstores, Walgreens plans to keep people healthier and more productive through 10,000 points of care by 2012.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The following factors could cause results to differ materially from management expectations as projected in such forward-looking statements: seasonal variations, competition, risks of new business areas, the availability and cost of real estate and construction, and changes in federal or state legislation or regulations. Investors are referred to the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, which Note is incorporated into this news release by reference.