SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — North Star Health plans to open three new pharmacies in 2026.

The pharmacies are set to be at North Star’s health center locations in Springfield, Londonderry, Vt. and Charlestown, a Tuesday news release from North Star said.

“We’re seeing more and more communities lose access to local pharmacies, and that loss creates real consequences for people’s health,” Joshua Dufresne, the CEO of North Star Health, said in the news release. North Star, formerly known as Springfield Medical Care Systems, is a federally qualified health center based in Springfield.

North Star’s news comes after Rite Aid has closed hundreds of stores across the country, including those in Randolph, Bethel and Newport, since filing for bankruptcy in early May. The three remaining Upper Valley Rite Aid stores — in Claremont, West Lebanon, and Windsor — are slated to close by the end of the summer.

The Bethel and Windsor Rite Aids were the only pharmacies in those towns.

“We want everyone to have a trusted pharmacy nearby, with a friendly, knowledgeable pharmacist who knows them and is connected to the rest of their care,” Dufresne said in the release. “That’s exactly what we’re building.”

The organization plans to integrate the pharmacies with its medical, dental and behavioral health services, as well as to provide free home delivery. It is soliciting donations to support the project online at: northstarfqhc.org/pharmacy/.

Construction on the new pharmacies is expected to begin this summer.