It is Social Enterprise Week, which coincides with Diabetes Awareness Month. As we approach the holiday season, this is a great time to encourage everyone to be mindful of how they can create social impact – uplifting our friends and neighbours, and building stronger communities – by supporting social enterprises in Bermuda.

A social enterprise is an organisation that measures its success based on its mission rather than profit. Typically, the mission relates to social or environmental betterment. The Grameen Bank is a wonderful global example. The bank provides loans and services to people and businesses that have been viewed by traditional banks as being too small or risky. The bank has helped to alleviate poverty and provided opportunities for the growth of entrepreneurship.

There are a multitude of social enterprise business models. One of my personal favourites is the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda, which harnesses the efforts of volunteers to operate the Pink Café, the Barn and other services. The proceeds of the HAB’s efforts go to purchasing essential equipment such as ambulances and medical equipment for the Bermuda Hospitals Board

I like knowing that by shopping at certain businesses my money goes a bit further because it also supports a worthy cause. Also, many social enterprises are highly innovative in how they produce goods and provide services, which have created greater awareness of important issues such as fair trade, sustainability and improved working conditions.

The Ministry of Health estimates that more than 30 per cent of Bermuda’s population either does not have health insurance or has insurance that is not sufficient to meet essential health needs. The result is that many people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension face a daily balancing act.

At the Bermuda Diabetes Association, we know that tough financial choices can mean buying medication and attending doctors’ appointments often are sacrificed. The BDA believes everyone should have access to the support they need when it comes to their health, no matter their circumstances. That is why we’re so proud of the success of our own social enterprise, the BDA Community Pharmacy.

It is a pharmacy just like any other — it’s open to everyone and we provide free delivery, blister packaging, etc. What makes the BDA Community Pharmacy unique in Bermuda is that we intentionally keep our margins low to make medication affordable and reinvest surplus, along with donations, into providing medicine, education services and health screenings to people living with diabetes who are uninsured or underinsured. Our customers can feel good that with every purchase, they are supporting our goal of equitable access to medicine and health services.

Over the past three years, the pharmacy has filled almost 3,000 prescriptions free of charge for people with diabetes who cannot afford health insurance or copays for their medication. That represents more than 135,000 pills, vials of insulin and boxes of test strips.

BDA Community Pharmacy is one of a growing number of social enterprises that is improving the quality of life for Bermudians and residents alike. We are proud to have been a trailblazer in successfully demonstrating how social enterprise is crucial to making a positive difference by putting health and wellness above profit.

I hope that Social Enterprise Week is an opportunity to shine the spotlight on all the amazing social enterprises in Bermuda.

• Lori Rockhead is the executive director of the Bermuda Diabetes Association