By: | August 26, 2025 | Philanthropy |
by Emma Sylvia
Ritesh Shah is a local Freehold pharmacist and the pioneer behind New Jersey’s first – and only – charitable pharmacy. Elaborating on his work with the Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy, Shah is publishing his first book, “Pills to Purpose: A True Story of a Pharmacist.” He sat down with us to discuss its contents, the writing process and what he hopes people garner from reading it.
A Charitable Effort
Shah has been a community pharmacist for more than two decades, owning more than six drug stores in that time. Alongside his wife, Asha, he became the CEO of Legacy Pharmacy Group, which operates in more than 15 states and works in tandem with many community pharmacies. He’s received multiple accolades, including being on the cover of America’s Pharmacists Magazine. Notably, Shah was the first to work with the state of New Jersey in order to accomplish Covid specimen collection.
Shah is primarily inspired by a loss that he faced during the pandemic. In October of 2021, he visited his sister, Rena, in India to celebrate Diwali. Tragically, Shah later lost his sister to Covid-19.
“That drastically changed my life,” Shah recollects. “How do you express that? How do you get that piece back that no one understands? We thought the best way to honor Rena was to provide medications to those who have no means of receiving them.”
And thus, New Jersey’s first and only charitable pharmacy was born.
Asha Shah put her white coat back on in order to run the Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy – all in honor of Rena. Just over three years later, the married pharmacist duo has dispensed almost $2 million worth of medication.
“My daughter calls me POTUS: Pharmacist of the United States,” Shah jokes, and he presents to me a backpack donning the moniker. Proud of the humorous title, Shah is ensuring that his sister’s light never fades, sparking a promise in New Jersey to ensure that everyone, especially the disenfranchised, have access to life-saving medication.
A Book’s Prologue
Ritesh Shah began writing his book in 2017 and especially began focusing on it during the pandemic. One day, his daughter encouraged him, saying: “Dad, you need to finish this and publish it.” Unsure, Shah replied, “Really? I’m a pharmacist,” to which she remained steadfast: “You’re going to be an author.” That claim proved true, as “Pills to Purpose: A True Story of a Pharmacist” is set to be published on September 13.
Shah’s book tells stories of his career, from filling prescriptions when he owned a drug store, to delivering medications personally, to being a leader in supplying the Covid-19 vaccination.
“It’s a pharmacist’s story. It’s a story of resilience. It’s a story of service,” he says.
Shah describes the book’s contents as featuring some of the cruxes of his character: the calling of a pharmacist, the events of the pandemic, what grief and resilience does to someone – and how he turned that into power and purpose.
A Close Testimony
President of the pharmacy, Joseph Howe, calls his role an honor. Originally meeting Shah when he was the superintendent of Freehold Schools, he attributes the school’s success (and being open in general) to Shah.
“We were in a situation where we couldn’t reopen without Covid testing, and there was no one offering. On a whim, the borough manager said, ‘I know this pharmacist that lives in Freehold Township that might be able to help,” Howe recollects. “The rest, as they say, is history. Ritesh is singlehandedly the reason we could open school up at the time.” Keeping his lab open overnight in order to accomplish the impossible, Shah was responsible for thousands of kids returning to school.
Notably, Howe recalls a somber moment in the school district, wherein a few staff members were crying because a student who had a genetic disorder couldn’t get access to the medication she needed to live. “I said, ‘I might know a guy who could help us out.’ And it wasn’t even a question. Ritesh said, ‘No problem.’ It was just miraculous.”
“This organization became bigger than anyone imagined,” Howe says. “We provide thousands of medications across the state. I don’t think there’s a county we don’t serve. It’s become a movement. They want it in their backyard.”
Howe has nothing but praise for Shah and the path he’s taken to get where he is now. “He undersells the journey it took to get here,” Howe says. The day the pharmacy opened, Howe, Shah and the rest of the staff stood outside the building and understood that the reason the pharmacy was the first of its kind was due to the simple fact that it took so much work to get to where they were.
Shah discusses the concept of Seva, a Hindi practice that involves selfless service to others. “I got to learn a lot about the principle of Seva and what that means. It’s that level of care and commitment you don’t see everywhere.”
The pharmacy has made a tremendous impact on the lives of Monmouth County residents and beyond, being more than just a pharmacy but a health center as well.
“That’s what this book does: It tells that story,” Howe says. While Shah says the book will primarily resonate with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, Howe attests that there’s the broader market of those that have faced tragedy and channeled their grief into purpose.
Giving Back
For every purchase of Pills to Purpose, the money goes right back to the pharmacy. As Shah elaborates, “If you buy this book, you help someone get medication. You’re giving the gift of life.”
Shah is nothing but thankful the people that have remained by his side, like his family and Howe. “I’m honored to have these people in my life.”
Shah recalls that when he went to the pharmacy earlier in the summer for his regular volunteering, he heard someone who was one of his customers in Holmdel. “‘Ritesh,’ he said when I walked in. He said, ‘[I knew] one day I’d meet you again.’ And he was just so thankful.” Sometimes at the pharmacy, they have customers who do not speak English, or others that aren’t sure how the process works – and Shah and his staff are always there to ensure everyone understands how to take their medication correctly.
“There’s no ‘i’ in ‘team.’ This book is a collection of my experiences for the last 20 plus years in the pharmacy, with Asha and so many staff members. I want to say thank you to pharmacists for doing what they do,” Shah says.
“Pills to Purpose” is available for pre-order now at www.pillstopurpose.com, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble with the release set for September 13 at the pharmacy’s gala, which will include keynote speakers and a book signing taking place at the Moghul Ball Room in Edison, NJ. Shah is excited for readers to discover the work of a pharmacist, and how to turn a tragedy into something greater for your community.
“This is how I’m giving back.”
To find out more, visit rscprx.org and pillstopurpose.com
Visit the Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy at 224 Shrewsbury Ave, Red Bank
