Before his Massachusetts store closed, loyal customers and an 11-year-old kid gave a longstanding Walgreens employee, known as “Pharmacist Bob,” an unexpected $6,000 surprise on Saturday.
According to CBS Boston, Bob Hesselberg, who has been working at the pharmacy counter at the Walgreens on Boston Post Road in Weston for over 30 years, was given a touching farewell before moving to another Walgreens in Waltham the following month.
Since his school bus drops him off directly across the street from the neighborhood Walgreens, 11-year-old Aarav Khanna assisted in planning the small celebration for the pharmacist he had come to know.
“I’ve seen the amount of kindness and hard work he puts into his job,” Khanna stated.
According to reports, Khanna raised roughly $6,000 to present to Hesselberg as a thank you gift. The employee also received a homemade card from a small girl.
“It’s humbling. I can’t believe it. It’s amazing,” veteran pharmacist Hesselberg stated.
“I don’t want to retire, even though I am 75. I don’t want to retire. I’m not ready for it.”
Carol Ott, a resident who attended the celebration, praised Hesselberg’s customer-friendly behavior.
“You walk in, 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,” she stated.
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As the firm struggles financially, Walgreens plans to close 1,200 shops over the next three years, making the moment particularly satisfying.
“I’m gonna miss everybody. And I’m very grateful for all of this,” Hesselberg said. “And thank you so much.”
