1 Shifra Mincer (in her own words) I was raised in New York City where I saw the homeless shivering from cold every winter. In sixth grade, a teacher offered to bring some students to a homeless shelter after school. I went with my friends and the teacher for several weeks, but when they stopped going together I continued to volunteer. Because I knew how to sew, I was asked to help out with the sewing kit if any guests requested some repairs. Throughout high school I continued to come each week after school, setting up my sewing kit that had now grown quite large. I got to know the guests who came regularly and I also got to know their clothes: the jackets, the shirts, the pants, and the shoes that were given to me with gaping holes and sagging seams. In high school I started a sewing club with my friend and we taught our fellow students how to sew. We made heart-shaped pillows for sick children and the elderly. In college I continue to volunteer at our fully student run homeless shelter, UNILU. Volunteer work has taught me to appreciate my own talents and the gifts that I was given. With my own hands as a young girl I had the power to repair someone's coat and keep him warm. Every time it rained I would think about the umbrellas I had sewn and suddenly I would appreciate that I was lucky enough to have a home. In the future I hope to continue helping others as much as I can. It is the most fulfilling and most important thing I have ever done. image/jpeg Sewing_bus.jpg 160005 2006-08-21T10:49:31-06:00 48 image/jpeg Sewing_14x48.jpg 156297 Volunteering application/x-pdf SHIFRA_MINCER.pdf 1986580 image/jpeg SHIFRA_MINCER_thumb.jpg 8317 49 image/jpeg SHIFRA_MINCER.jpg 241375 2009-11-18T21:17:55-07:00