For the last nine years Lee Hardy has made thousands of Easter baskets for needy kids in her Palmetto, Florida community— and each is a toy-laden cellophane-wrapped masterpiece.

Hardy nearly empties the holiday shelves at all the Dollar Stores in her area, buying Easter grass, candy, bunny-themed coloring books and plush toys.

"The Manatee County Sheriff's Office donates toys cars and stickers but Hardy buys nearly everything that goes into the baskets," reports WTSP News. "She even throws in a toothbrush to balance things out."

Called the Easter basket lady, she invites hundreds of kids into her home to pick out one of her baskets.

"The smiles on their faces make all the long hours worth the work for Hardy," says, WTSP.

(WATCH the video below or READ the story, w/ Photos from WTSP)

File photo by storkbitesforyou, CC