Caroline Benzel

Before COVID-19 hit, second-year medical student

and her therapy dog Loki (aka Dogtor Loki) spent time at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Once they weren’t able to be there in person, they visited patients and nurses via FaceTime. However, they wanted to do more. Through social media, they solicited items like lotion, body powder and lip balm to create Hero Healing Kits. More than 5,000 of the care packages have been delivered to ICU nurses, and they’ve inspired other people to distribute another 2,500 around the country.