Help Richard Smile Again

Anyone who parks in the Norfolk Street parking garage at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine knows this familiar face—but few know his name or his story.

“My grandkids don’t believe me when I tell them that Grandpa works at a dental school. ‘Then why don’t you have any teeth?’ asks my youngest.” Richard has worked at the parking garage for years. He works hard to keep students safe when they are heading home after a long day at school. ‘I’ve seen it all working the night shift, but they don’t bother me anymore, I just worry for the students sometimes. I make sure to do my job and keep the place locked up at night. I love working here and seeing so many people.” Richard estimates he sees about 500 drivers come into his garage every day. “My favorite thing about working here is the food truck. I love that little place around the corner. I like sandwiches, but I can’t chew them. I have to swallow a lot of stuff whole. I’m always scared to eat in my booth—if I choked, no one would find me until it’s too late. The dentist says I don’t have any bone and need two screws put in. It sounds nice but I’ll never be able to afford it. Between trying to support myself and my family, I struggle to make ends meet.” When Richard’s brother passed away in October 2022, Richard took on new responsibilities to keep his extended family afloat. “If I had nice teeth and a nice smile, boy, I don’t know what I would do,” he says. “I’d be able to smile, and maybe people wouldn’t be so scared of me. I could eat a little better, too. That would help with my diabetes. I want to be around to see my grandkids grow up. I tell them I’m not going nowhere, but I don’t always believe it with all of the stuff I have going on with my health and my mouth.”

Your donations will go to help Richard fund his dental care and continue being a valuable part of the Rutgers community. Thank you for your contributions.