Her earliest influence was her mother, who was of East Indian and Jamaican descent and deeply committed to helping others.
“She was buying food and taking clothes to them, encouraging them,” Hinds recalled. “She modeled it quite well. Those embers of kindness really stayed in my heart.”
That early example grew into a lifelong commitment to service and cultural exchange. Before joining QCC, Hinds worked in diverse settings, including archaeological projects in Georgia and Israel. She also taught second grade in Pohnpei, Micronesia, an experience she describes as sparking a “cultural fire” that reshaped how she understood global community and connection.
Through her work with Upward Movement Ministries and the North New England Seventh-day Adventist conference, she has helped lead humanitarian efforts grounded in an empowerment model that focuses on collaboration.
“We don’t go in as saviors,” Hinds explained. “We go in as partners, grateful to be invited into someone else’s space.”
In places like Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Guyana, that philosophy has taken tangible form. Sandra and other volunteers taught sewing classes using locally sourced supplies. Participants who finished the course were given a sewing machine, enabling them to create garments that could later be sold for income. In addition to sewing, volunteers distributed practical resources like reading glasses, which continue to make a difference long after the volunteers are gone.
While in Guyana, Hinds encountered a church devastated by a hurricane. After returning home, she helped raise $24,000 to support its rebuilding.
“When people see things for themselves,” Hinds said, “they get invested and they stay connected in meaningful ways.”
At the heart of her work is a belief that skill-building creates opportunity.
“We want people not just to survive, but to thrive,” she said. “You learn about and appreciate the strength and resiliency of the people.”
Next, Hinds will be heading to a volunteer project in Indiana, once again bringing needles, thread, and a spirit of shared humanity.