BUTLER TWP — Mrs. Claus has been busy handing out more than 1,000 stockings in Butler County.

Wearing fluffy clothes in reds and whites, Sharon Schneider delivered stockings Wednesday to patients at Butler Health System Radiation Oncology, 104 Technology Drive, Butler.

Schneider hand-delivered each stocking to a patient from the building's cancer support group, run by Stacy Myers, a BHS medical social worker.

“This is a very hard time for patients and their families,” Myers said. “This is just a happy moment for them.”

Schneider said she has seven people who help deliver the stockings, which are filled with a range of items, including mittens, lotions, snacks and blankets.

“We are seeing to it that each patient gets a stocking,” Schneider said. “Some of them rip into these stockings like kids at Christmas time.”

Schneider said she and her “elves” visited UPMC Passavant in Cranberry Township on Monday, and they have plans to deliver stockings to BHS Crossroads Campus and Concordia Lutheran Ministries.

Schneider said community members donated all the items to stuff a total of 1,029 stockings. In some instances the community offered more than gifts.

“Some of them have beautiful letters of support,” Schneider said. “Every stocking has a story.”

After handing out stockings Myers led Mrs. Claus and members of her support group to different sections of the center, caroling at each stop. They sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Deck the Halls” among others. More stockings were delivered.

“They (patients) react in different ways,” Myers said. “Some people feel so blessed, and some people are embarrassed because they are used to giving and not receiving.”

But as the carolers made their rounds, smiles followed them from doctors, nurses and patients alike.

“I think they are just so happy.” said Myers. “I feel that this has been the most rewarding opportunity to be able to share.”

Schneider is no stranger to her Claus costume. Although this year's edition is new, she has portrayed Mrs. Claus for the last 12 years.

Schneider started out as a donor for the project, according to the project's creator, Kim Birckbichler.

“She's just run with it,” Birckbichler said.

Birckbichler started the project in 2011, inspired by the buzz around Martina McBride's song, “I'm Gonna' Love You Through It,” which is about a woman battling cancer.

Birckbichler said even from the beginning, there was sentiment attached to the act of giving stockings. She had family that suffered from cancer.

“That's why I got involved with it,” she said. “The whole project has hit home.”

When the project started, Birckbichler wasn't sure what to expect. Then came hundreds of stockings. She said she usually averaged around 200 each year.

“It's unbelievable to me to see the generosity of this town,” she said.

After about five years, the workload weighed heavily on Birckbichler, and Schneider came forward offering to take over the program.

“It's a lot of work,” she said.

Birckbichler said Sharon's spirit and personality made her the perfect woman for the job.

“Sharon is an amazing, selfless, generous woman,” she said. “She's a little firecracker.”

Birckbichler said she is glad to see the program continuing to grow in Schneider's hands and that the community is enabling that growth.

“It's just grown exponentially,” she said. “It speaks volumes to me that people want to help others in that way.”

Schneider said she's determined to stay committed to running the program. She said she doesn't want praise, not for Christmas or any day. All she wants is to give what she can to those who need support.

“We're here to help them beat cancer, but we're also here for love and hugs and care,” Schneider said. “I'd love to see it continue.”