Chicago hospital worker delivers 1,000 gifts to sick kids

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A hospital cafeteria worker served up smiles to kids spending the holidays in the hospital.

Jessie Tendayi works at Advocate Trinity Hospital in Chicago. On Tuesday morning, she delivered more than 1,000 toys to kids at the Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn.

Tendayi saves money from her paychecks all year long to buy the gifts. On Good Morning America, she explained why she has taken on this mission of kindness for the last eight years.

"My goal is to put a smile on the face of a child who is going through so much, whatever the pain they might go through, I try to calm that pain with whatever that might help," Tendayi said.

GMA had a few surprises for Tendayi. They gave her a $5,000 Toys 'R' Us gift card to buy even more toys and she will be pampered at the spa.