"We've been doing it for over 10 years," said Maria Streno, one of the participants. Streno explained the dolls are taken to Children's Lawrenceville location and are used to help teach children about the procedures they are having done.

Peters Township resident Ann Kruppa said the event got started years ago when some of the women of the parish decided to do a community service or outreach project. Someone suggested making dolls that could be used as teaching aids for Children's Hospital, and an annual tradition was born.

The Women of St. Benedict provides funding to purchase white or light colored material and stuffing. The bodies, arms and legs are cut out and sewn together prior to the event so they are ready for stuffing.

Kruppa said the project could be time consuming, especially stuffing the dolls, but the women form an assembly line of sorts and make it a friendly competition. Once the dolls parts are stuffed, several volunteers at sewing machines stitch the arms and legs to the body.

"We enjoy this, " said Vi Fredericks, who had polio when she was a child and spent a lot of time in Children's Hospital. She said she has a soft spot for making the dolls for Children's. "When you leave here, you feel good."

Kruppa said the women typically make about 100 dolls each year.

Nancy Huffner, president of the Women of St. Benedict, said that even though it was a cold and snowy morning, more than 20 women showed up to make dolls. "This makes you warm all over," she said.