KSHB’s Taylor Hemness Returns to Cover Pharmacy of Grace’s Shawnee Grand Opening

Shawnee, KS — KSHB 41 reporter and anchor Taylor Hemness covered us before our doors even opened in 2022, and now he’s here for our next chapter.

Four years ago, Taylor was at Pharmacy of Grace as we were preparing to open. A Mercy and Truth Healthcare Ministry patient named Ruby walked through our doors straight from the emergency room. Ruby was the embodiment of exactly who we had built this pharmacy for. She was cycling in and out of the ER because she simply couldn’t afford the medications managing her chronic conditions. Taylor told that story, and it helped Kansas City understand why Pharmacy of Grace needed to exist.

Earlier this year, KSHB returned to cover the next chapter: the news that Pharmacy of Grace was expanding its Shawnee presence from what was essentially a closet (a small space where we could only deliver medications to Mercy and Truth patients) to a full-service pharmacy open to anyone in the community.

And this week, Taylor reached out to cover us again and celebrate our Grand Opening with us.

From Six Prescriptions to 130 a Day

When our Kansas City, Kansas location opened, the staff filled six prescriptions on the first day. Now, they’re doing about 130 every day. That growth happened entirely through word of mouth, referrals, and community trust.

CEO Michael Fink told KSHB the pharmacy identified approximately 2,000 uninsured residents in the immediate area surrounding the location of our pharmacy in Shawnee and he noted that a nearby school has 86% of students receiving subsidized lunches, a daily reminder of the families this pharmacy was built to serve. As Michael put it, Shawnee was simply a great fit.

And the Shawnee opening is not a finish line. It is the next step. More expansion plans are already being discussed.

More Than Affordable Medications

We want to be clear about something the KSHB story captured beautifully: the medications we provide are the same clinically proven, life-sustaining prescriptions available at any pharmacy. What Pharmacy of Grace does is remove the financial barrier standing between a patient and the care their doctor ordered.

The pharmacy also works to overcome language barriers, ensuring every patient fully understands how and for how long they are supposed to take their medications. Because the most expensive medication in the world is the one that never gets taken, whether because a patient couldn’t afford it or because no one took the time to make sure they understood it.

The Shawnee pharmacy is open to everyone, regardless of location or insurance status. If you have insurance, we most likely accept it. If you don’t, we’re still here for you.

A Grateful Thank You to Taylor and KSHB

We are grateful to Taylor Hemness and the entire KSHB team for their ongoing commitment to covering this mission. From Ruby’s story on day one, to the full-service pharmacy we are today. That kind of sustained, thoughtful journalism helps our community understand why our mission is so critical and it helps patients who need us find their way to our doors.

Watch the full segment on KSHB’s website here. 

And if you or someone you know could benefit from what we do, our Shawnee location is open. Call to see if you qualify for the Grace Meds program for uninsured or underinsured patients, and stop by to see what makes us unique!