Heather Fisher found her talent in crafts many years ago, and has been sharing ever since.
She joined the Women's Institute in Middlemarch when she was a teenager and used to offer her knitting to friends and family.
If her friends thought her generous then, they would have far more to say now.
Ms Fisher has been running her Mosgiel home like a small factory, sewing together small cloth bags and filling them with eight toiletry items.
So far, she has made more than 1060 toiletry bags.
But instead of selling them, she has donated the bags to Dunedin Hospital.
She has kindled her talent and hobby for 53 years with friends at the Women's Institute.
In recognition of her generous nature, last week Green Island Women's Institute awarded Ms Fisher the Avis Rishworth Trophy Innovation Award.
Ms Fisher said her donation to the hospital was a simple solution to one of life's irritating problems.
''You don't realise how important your toiletries bag is when you go to hospital,'' she said.
Soap, shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, tissues, a notebook, and a pen are all placed by Ms Fisher in the free bags for patients, along with a small note.
Even though many of the patients who received the free bags have sent thank-you notes to Ms Fisher, she has remained gracious.
''One came from a woman in America,'' Ms Fisher said.
''She's written all the way from overseas. It's just incredible, really it is, what people do.''
- Robert Steven
