- College of Medicine
“We have so much to be thankful for this holiday season but nothing more than the fact that we were selfless and thought of others in their time of need.” With those words, UCF College of Medicine systems analyst Luis Reichard approached Thanksgiving after returning from his Hurricane Sandy-ravaged hometown.
Luis collected food, water, blankets and warm clothing from COM colleagues and others in the community and drove a truckload of supplies to his hometown church, St. Mary’s Star of the Sea in Rockaway, New York.
Luis said families gathered at the church and volunteers delivered supplies to shut-ins who were unable to leave their homes. On Sunday morning, the church, which was damaged by the storm, held a service. The sermon: giving from the heart.
Luis recently underwent surgery for prostate cancer and said he organized the donation drive in gratitude for his recovery, which happened with the help of College of Medicine physicians.