ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Rachael Mahoney spends her free time hand-crocheting stuffed animals for hospital patients.

Mahoney is the Vice President of Hospital Operations and Strategic Alignment at Lehigh Valley Health Network, which is part of Jefferson Health.

She picked up crocheting as an after-work hobby. Soon enough, she had amassed a collection of plushes that needed a home.

So, she decided to make a donation to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital in Allentown.

It became a recurring tradition for Mahoney and her daughter, Palmer, who had her own experience staying overnight at a hospital several years ago.

Mahoney typically drops off the plushes to be distributed by the Child Life team. But recently, she had a chance to visit a few children and make a donation in person.

While this is not a service Mahoney advertises for the general public, she hopes to continue using her free time and talents to make future stuffed animal donations to the hospital.

Watch the video above to see the smiles it brings.

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