Milford student turns shell casings into jewelry to raise funds for veterans

MILFORD — Samuel Wilshinsky of Milford, a fourth grade student at Hilltop Country Day School in Sparta, was recently awarded the Thomas E. Clancy Memorial Award.

The service award, established in 2011 by Mrs. Clancy and her daughter, Chloe, is presented in honor of their husband and father, Thomas, to an exceptionally motivated Hilltop student who has initiated an idea or plan and took action to make it happen, in the hopes that this positive change will benefit the school and surrounding community. This pursuit may involve accepting a personal challenge to lead and inspire others.

Sam Wilshinsky, who fosters a deep fascination of military history and appreciation for veterans, has visited almost all of the battleships in the United States and is a regular on the Intrepid in the New York Harbor. After frequenting local shooting ranges with his pop-pop, he took note of all the empty shell casings, wastefully strewn about each range. As a result of this observation, he began collecting these empty shell casings and devised a plan to one day create something useful, while simultaneously benefitting this country's veterans.

A year in the making, Sam cleans, files, polishes, and adds crystals to create jewelry and accessories to empty shell casings, beautifully turning a symbol of negativity into one of hope and pride. Sam has independently contacted local stores and fairs to sell his items. With help from his mom, he created a website, www.casings4acause.com, to aid in sharing his mission and selling this jewelry. Customers may choose from a wide variety of colored crystals and are even given the option to add engravings.

After researching charities that benefit veterans, Sam chose to donate 15 percent of his gross profits to Homes for our Troops, an organization committed to building specially-adapted homes that allow veterans the ability to live independently after suffering from war-related injuries. To date, nearly $200 has been donated to this cause, as Sam's gesture of appreciation for those who serve to protect our freedom.

For more information about Hilltop Country Day School, visit www.hilltopcds.org.