Advocate Trinity Food Service Aide Jessie Tendayi, will deliver toys to young hospitalized patients at Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
“This is what God put me here to do – making these children smile is all I need,’’ said Tendayi, who has been featured on local networks for her extreme generosity, which began in 2009 with 100 toys.
This year, she will deliver 10 times as many.
Throughout the year Tendayi saves money from her paycheck (and sometimes picks up extra shifts) to fund her mission. Tendayi said she spent $5,000 on 1,000 toys, most of which were purchased on Thanksgiving Day and the following weekend.
"I'm so grateful Jessie is part of the Advocate Trinity hospital family,’’ said Terika Richardson, president of Advocate Trinity Hospital. “She is an asset to our hospital and to hundreds of kids every year. Her generous spirit embodies the true meaning of this holiday season,’’ Richardson said.
Mike Farrell, Advocate Children’s Hospital president, said the staff is inspired by Tendayi’s compassion for young patients who can’t be home during the holidays.
“Advocate Children’s Hospital is incredibly grateful for everything Jessie has done and continues to do for our young patients. She has brought smiles and holiday cheer to hundreds of children and their family members,” said Mike Farrell, Advocate Children’s Hospital president. “Her generosity continues to amaze our staff every year.”