By Liz McBreen
Using the money her parents would have spent on the party, Fein and her mother bought gifts for the children at Winthrop who battle a life-threatening disease on a daily basis.
The girls in the Nina Jillian Rosenblatt Ambulatory Suite received pocketbooks and jewelry boxes decorated with sequins and rhinestones and stuffed with makeup and nail polish. The boys enjoyed bags full of games as well as trucks and cars hand-painted by Fein and her friends.
According to Fein's mother, Sandy, Devora came up with the idea by herself. "She just wanted to help people," Sandy said, explaining that before her daughter's birthday she made inquiries to different organizations that might accept Devora's donation. "We decided on Winthrop, but there are so many places that would be grateful to receive gifts like these."
In place of a reception, Devora and her friends got together and, for about an hour and a half, worked diligently to create the hand-made gifts. When it was time to deliver them, Devora, who attends Yeshiva Torah in Queens, greeted each of the recipients as they entered the suite. She was joined by the friends who had helped her put together the special deliveries.
Describing Devora's reaction to her day of giving, her mother said, "I can't imagine a kid feeling better about herself. All of the kids felt wonderful. It was really beautiful."
Sandy explained that a friend's daughter, who is now 11, wants to do something similar for her bat mitzvah. "That is what's most important here: that other kids will hear about this and hopefully want to do the same thing," Sandy said.
