CARMEL, Ind. — Christmas is right around the corner and a Carmel teen is well aware that the holiday season is upon us.
Carrington Craig has been playing Santa Claus herself now for several years, practicing that old saying, "It's better to give than receive."
She may be 15 years old, but the University High School sophomore still appreciates what it's like to open up a present at Christmastime.
"I love to get gifts," Craig said, smiling.
For 11 years now, the Carmel teen has probably given more gifts than she's received.
"I like helping people. I like making them feel better," Craig explained.
The people Craig is helping again this year are the kids at Riley Hospital for Children who are in the hospital during the holidays.
From now until early December, Craig is trying to collect at least 500 toys for sick kids at Riley.
"I will try my best to make them happy and keep their minds off the fact that they're in a hospital," said Craig.
It's all part of the work the 15-year-old does through a foundation she started at 4-years-old.
That's when she visited a relative in the hospital at Christmas and saw a sick child there and wondered how kids in the hospital got Christmas presents.
Her mother challenged her to answer the question.
"She figured it out," said Craig's mother, Shelly Ponder.
That first year, when Craig was still small, her family hosted a party.
"She told them, 'You can't come if you don't bring a toy,'" Ponder remembered.
And Craig is still figuring it out again this year, even though she's had her own health challenges.
Just over a month ago, the 15-year-old ended up in the ICU following a routine surgery.
"It was kind of scary, but my mom was there. My grandma was there. They kind of pushed me through that. Another real gift is having people who actually love you, with you," Craig said.
Now, she's passing that love on with some help from her classmates who've already donated 150 toys for the giveaway.
"I love them so much. I'm very grateful for them," she said.
Grateful, too, for having a way to make a difference in lives of other kids.
"I want to give them some kind of hope," Craig said.
If you want to donate a toy for this year's giveaway, the Carrington and Friends Foundation is hosting a toy drive Dec. 9 at University High School from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.