It’s her 7 a.m. ritual. Regina Miles makes a plastic bag-sized meal from a makeshift table in her home.

“I knew that I had to do something to help change the world. One sandwich at a time,” said Miles.

What You Need To Know

  • Regina Miles has been handing out sandwiches across numerous subway lines for the past eight years after a friend taught her how

  • Miles, once homeless herself and often on the subway, knows how important a simple sandwich can be to someone who is hungry

  • Miles is there six days a week in order to help as many people as she can. For now, it's sandwiches, but she hopes to also give hats and gloves as the weather turns cold

One at a time for eight years now. Regina feels like this is her calling because, like she says in every subway car she’s enters, she’s been there.

When Regina arrived in New York in 2012, she was homeless – and struggled with addiction. With the help of a friend, she not only got off the streets, but learned to give back.

“So this is something she used to do herself," Miles remembers. "And she taught me how to do it. So I decided that this was something really special: to feed someone.”

Her message is always the same:

“I am Regina. I am from Blessing Hands Food for the Needy. Offering free fresh sandwiches, juice, and prayer. They’re not only free but they are for everyone because today, you don’t have to be homeless to be hungry. Take it from me, I’ve been there.”

Handing out up to 40 sandwiches a day, Regina makes sure to emphasize that there’s no need to be embarrassed when it comes to asking for help.

“If you are hungry, please do not be ashamed. Just ask. It is free,” is part of her subway speech.

All donations go towards buying more ingredients for the next day’s batch of hoagies. With any extra cash, Regina hopes to buy hats and gloves to hand out.

“It might not seem like a lot to other people, but when I start getting on that train and people go, ‘Hey Regina, where’s my sandwich? Hey where you been?’ It makes a total difference," Miles said, while making yet another sandwich. "You know you feel the love that you are giving in those sandwiches. So it means a lot to me.”

She jumps from car to car, from platform to platform spreading joy, generosity, and a little bit of comfort to those who need it the most.

“To see the smiles on their faces and when they say thank you. It’s worth it,” Miles said.

For making a sandwich seem like so much more, Regina Miles is our New Yorker of the Week.