She's a Gift by name and to many she is also a gift by nature.

Carol Gift sacrifices hours of her free time and precious moments with her family to go beyond the call of duty at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

She has woken up at 4.30 a.m. to cover shifts for co-workers, and has even picked them up to ensure they get to work on time. She often works 12-and 13-hour days and has been called in on holidays to help.

She says she does it to show patients and staff she cares.

The Royal Gazette met with Mrs. Gift a dietary assistant charged with preparing nutritious meals for patients and staff to find out why she does what she does.

We are featuring her story as part of our Dare To Care campaign which aims to encourage people to reclaim the community through simple acts of kindness, whether it's giving up your seat on the bus or dedicating time to volunteer for a charity.

"Mother Teresa said service is the rent you pay while you are on Earth," said Mrs. Gift. "I believe that is key, because if you give of yourself you get back. It's like the cycle, you give to receive. If I sow a seed of love or sow a seed of giving, someone is going to sow for me as well. I truly believe that."

Mrs. Gift has worked at the hospital for nine years. During that time she has implemented a Christmas gift initiative she and her co-workers add small gifts to patients' dinner trays to brighten their day.

What motivates Mrs. Gift to keep going? She says she finds it rewarding when she can make a difference in the life of a patient.

She recalled an elderly woman placed in the isolation room who wouldn't stop screaming and crying. The woman was being difficult to nursing staff.

"We were short that day on the wards, and I was up checking on staff, but I just couldn't take her crying anymore. So I just 'gowned up' and spent half an hour with her, feeding her, talking to her, and she calmed down. And, I remember her just teary- eyed, she didn't cry, but she was just grateful. That made a big difference, because she ate and she was just happy."

But, there is a penalty for going the extra mile. "It has been a tremendous sacrifice with friends and family, personally, but I just thank God that I have the support system I have.

"My husband and I, we master take-out, and try to be nutritious about it. I learnt to prep food at home and I try to choose the events I go to and plan in advance, because anything can happen. I could be out on Christmas and I may get a phone call."

If there is an issue with the Island's docks or food shipments are delayed, Mrs. Gift has to network with food and beverage vendors on the Island to make sure KEMH patients are fed and their dietary requirements met.

Lynn Fubler, a food service manager at the hospital, said: "Carol will help a colleague by watching a child, staying later or running to the market so at the end of the day, patients and staff have what they need. This is so significant and Carol is an unsung hero and more in that way. We know physicians and nurses are the heart and soul of the hospital, but other people also play a significant role and often are not recognized.

"Patients are provided with meals and may not realize that someone woke up at 4.30 in the morning to make sure everything was prepared and ready to be served," Ms Fubler said.

Mrs. Gift added: "I am a people person. I love making people smile. I like the satisfaction that someone had a good day because of something little that I did. It is rewarding, but you know I don't really dwell on it. I think it's in me; it's just my character."