Star of Queens: Princy Ann Abraham

Volunteer at St. Nick’s Men’s Shelter

Community Involvement: Through Campus Ministry at St. John’s University, Princy Ann Abraham discovered St. Nick’s Men’s Shelter in Jamaica, where homeless men around the city are brought for dinner and overnight accommodation. Abraham works with other volunteers to cook complete dinners for small groups of men. After cooking, she sits down to enjoy dinner and conversations with the individuals.
Personal: Abraham was born and raised in Rockland County, New York. She currently lives in Queens, where she is an active student at St. John’s. During her free time, she loves to kick box and enjoys trying different forms of dance, including two Indian forms – bharatanatyam and bhangra. She feels that maintaining as much physical activity as possible is the best way for her to release any negative energy.

Occupation: A full time undergraduate student studying legal studies, philosophy and government & politics, she will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in May and plans on going to law school shortly after. She also works on campus with the Department of Student Development to serve as a liaison between first year students and the university.

Biggest Challenge: “Sometimes it is difficult to make the individuals as comfortable as possible at the shelter. We try to keep dietary restrictions in mind when we cook each meal. We also limit ourselves from sensitive topics to make sure the men are in a positive and supportive atmosphere. I do my very best to assure the men that they can talk to us about anything, but sometimes they do not converse with us.”

Favorite Memory: “One day the meal we made (tacos and rice) was completely devoured in a matter of minutes. I am still learning how to cook, so this made me very happy.”

Inspiration: “My inspiration to volunteer is knowing that I am capable of making a difference in the lives of individuals no matter how great or small. In the future, I want to have the knowledge and resources available to address women’s issues and ethical dilemmas. I think it is important to humble yourself and understand the predicaments others are going through.”