Jessica Best Woessner puts toys into a van in Center Twp as Mission M.A.C.S (Make a child smile) will deliver three vehicles full of toys to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.

CENTER TWP — When Jessica Best Woessner’s brother was in Children’s Hospital during the 2003 Christmas season following a snowboarding accident, the family noticed a quiet, ill patient in the next room who was always alone.

“Nobody was with her and nobody came to see her,” said Woessner. “She was a very polite little girl, but she never smiled and was never happy.”

Then two days before Christmas, Santa came around with huge sacks of toys for each young patient.

“That little girl smiled the whole day,” recalled Woessner.

That memory resulted in the formation of Mission Make a Child Smile, in which Woessner collects toys and money from her family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances for delivery to UPMC Children’s Hospital during the holidays.