Jessie Tendayi, a cafeteria worker at Trinity Hospital in Chicago, always pushes herself to work hard. In addition to working her regularly assigned shifts, Jessie picks up extra shifts to save extra money for the holidays.
The amazing thing is that Jessie doesn't use the money for herself, or even for her family. No, Jessie saves her paychecks every month so that she can buy toys and gifts for the sick children who are in the hospital.
Jessie started doing this in 2009, and has now been buying Christmas presents for sick kids for eight years. The first year, Jessie was able to give out 100 presents, but every year since then, she has increased her haul.
According to CNN, "This year, she spent $5,000 on 1,000 toys for sick children at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, a Chicago suburb."
"I don't make that much," she said on WBBM, "but to me, it's not about the paycheck. To me, it's about compassion you have towards other people, so the little you have, you share."
The kids definitely appreciate it. Nobody's dream is to spend Christmas in the hospital, but these children don't have a choice. Receiving gifts from a stranger always brightens the spirits of the sick children.
According to CNN, "One mother appreciated all the help her son could get. 'He doesn't leave this room,' she said. 'For him to have more toys to play with and keep him happy while we're here is incredibly helpful, humbling and amazing.'"
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