Cafeteria Worker Spends Modest Income on Toys for Sick Children

Christmas came early to Advocate Children’s Hospital-Oak Lawn on Monday in the form of a humble cafeteria worker who just wants to serve God.

For the past six years, Jessie Tendayi, a cafeteria employee at Advocate Trinity Hospital on Chicago’s South Side, has devoted most of her modest income toward buying toys and bringing a little joy into the lives of sick children during the holidays.

The Zimbabwe-born Tendayi, who immigrated to the United States 18 years ago, says she was watching a TV newscast about Christmas at a children’s hospital when she felt she should be doing something.

Jessie Tendayi visits with Jayson Harris at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL.

“God put it in my heart that I should be taking care of those children,” Jessie said. “I didn’t know what to do, but God gave me an idea and then I thought about giving them toys so that they can have something to feel better. Their problems are heavy.”

This year, Jessie has purchased or collected over 1,000 new toys. Two trucks roll up in front in the children’s hospital packed to the brim with train sets, dolls, games, and action figures. Half of the toys will be given to children at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn. In January, the other half will be distributed at Advocate Children’s Park Ridge campus.

Jessie is always combing the stores looking for good toy sales. When she first started out, she purchased most of the toys from Walgreens stores in her South Side neighborhood. In recent years she’s expanded her enterprise to Family Dollar and any big box store offering a deal.

She shyly admits to spending between $4,000 and $5,000 out of her own pocket on toys.

“I save out of my paycheck every pay period through the credit union so I can have more money,” she says. “The little I have I give. I take what I need to survive but most of it is going for the toys and then I pay my bills.”

Last year, Jessie was surprised on ABC 7 Chicago’s Windy City Live show with $3,300 worth of toys to distribute to Advocate Children’s patients. The producers selected Jessie after learning of her incredible generosity over the years.

“I’m still shocked,” she said. “I’m still working on it.”

Jessie begins making the rounds of Advocate Children’s-Oak Lawn followed by an entourage of news media. Her first stop is at the room of Joshua Owen, who sits cross legged on a hospital bed.

He holds up his tiny tape-wrapped hand tethered to an IV and unfurls five fingers to show that he’s 5 years old.

Jessie places an armload of toys into Joshua’s lap. He zones in on a battery-powered train set.

“You like your toys? A lot? Does it make you happy,” Jessie asks the boy, who smiles and nods his head. “I see you smiling. You’re happy, I’m happy too.”

After she plays with Joshua for a while, she offers a word of encouragement to his mother.

“Give me a hug,” she says. “I love you, I’ll see you. Have fun playing today.”

She visits the rooms of other children. At first they are overwhelmed by the stranger, but before the end of the visit they are captivated by Jessie’s effervescent smile and her gift of toys.

Bringing toys to children when they’re not expecting anything else but pain that day gives her joy.

“When I give them toys I want them to see God, not me,” Jessie says. “I want them to know that it doesn’t matter if you work in the kitchen or the dish room. No matter how small your paycheck is, you can make a difference.”

HOLIDAY SPIRIT ON PATCH

• Merry Kiss-mas: Adorably Dorky Kid Steals Kisses with ‘Mistletoe Kissing Contraption’ » Illinois
• Sleepy Baby Naps on Santa’s Lap in Most Adorable Santa Pic Ever » Maryland
• Widow Drops Wedding Ring in Salvation Army Kettle to Honor Husband » Massachussetts
• The Santa Who Turned Away an Autistic Girl — and His Defenders » California
• An Entire Neighborhood’s Christmas Lights Synched to Music » California