NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — People who go to Peoples Pharmacy on historic Church Street in Norfolk get personalized service, and some are greeted with a warm embrace from Dr. Anna Peoples. Local doctor named a champion by CDC But with hundreds of independent pharmacies struggling to survive, a local legislator seeks to give them a lifeline, and customers at Peoples hope that happens. Customer Lucille Stoffregen, 87, is a spunky former athlete who played basketball and volleyball while she was in college. She could shop at major drug stores near her Ghent home, but for some symptoms, she prefers to use natural products sold by Peoples Pharmacy. "If she has natural products that [don't] have any side effects to it, ... that's the wonderful thing about it," Peoples said. "I mean, she doesn't have to worry about this product interacting with any of her medications." Retired Norfolk Police Officer Jay Hannah traveled from Suffolk because he isn't another 'what's your date of birth' customer at Peoples. "That's important to me — good customer service," Hannah said. "I was just talking to her about company personality. Pharmacies that I've dealt with and have been dealing with in the past has absolutely zero personality. You walk in, and either you can get what you need or what you want, or you don't. And if you have a question from anyone, you will never get an answer." According to the National Community Pharmacists Association, more than 300 independent pharmacies closed in 2023. That's why Virginia beach Democratic State Sen. Aaron Rouse and a Republican from Charlottesville have introduced the Save Local Pharmacies Act. If approved, Virginia would employ the services of one pharmacy benefits manager that would negotiate contracts with health plans, drug makers and pharmacies. Peoples said the change could offer her pharmacy a financial tourniquet. "... If nothing changes, there won't be any independent pharmacies," Peoples said. I mean, this is set up such that they're really taking away all of our profits and people that have been in business. I know pharmacies that have been in business since the 18th century are closing. So it's almost like this is really an important bill to pass because if it doesn't, we're gone."