Walgreens pharmacist receives surprise $6,000 gift from boy, 11, and devoted customers before store closes

A longtime Walgreens employee affectionately known as “Pharmacist Bob” received a shocking $6,000 gift on Saturday from an 11-year-old boy and devoted customers leading up to his Massachusetts store’s closure.

Bob Hesselberg, who has run the pharmacy counter for the Walgreens on Boston Post Road in Weston for more than 30 years, received the heartwarming sendoff before he’s relocated to another Walgreens in Waltham next month, according to CBS Boston.

Aarav Khanna, 11, helped organize the small celebration for the pharmacist who he got to know because his school bus usually drops him off right across the street from the local Walgreens.

“I’ve seen the amount of kindness and hard work he puts into his job,” Khanna told the station.

Khanna reportedly raised about $6,000 to give to Hesselberg as a token of appreciation. A young girl also gave the worker a handmade card.

“It’s humbling. I can’t believe it. It’s amazing,” veteran pharmacist Hesselberg told the station.

“I don’t want to retire, even though I am 75. I don’t want to retire. I’m not ready for it.”

Resident Carol Ott who came out for the celebration lauded the friendliness Hesselberg has shown customers.

“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 told the Boston news station.

The gratifying moment comes amid major cuts by Walgreens which plans on closing 1,200 stores over the next three years as the company faces financial struggles.

“I’m gonna miss everybody. And I’m very grateful for all of this,” Hesselberg told the crowd. “And thank you so much.”