CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- In some parts of the world, food and shelter are tough to come by, making toys for the children low on the priority list.

However, the selfless act of a little girl will soon have a big impact on kids she has never even met.

Pastor Steve Fox has been visiting a village in Nicaragua every year since before 8-year-old Alaina Morris was even born.

Alaina has never been, but she has heard plenty of stories about the children growing up there.

“I heard that every Saturday morning they go to the garbage dump and hunt for food and that's why I wanted to do this,” Alaina said.

For her eighth birthday, instead of presents, she asked her family and friends to donate money and stuffed animals for the children in Nicaragua.

“She just kind of came up with the idea on her own; maybe the holiday spirit or whatnot,” Alaina’s mother said.

“I kind of teared up because I thought that was really neat for an 8-year-old girl to have that kind of heart,” Fox said.

She raised more than $200 and 20 stuffed animals that Pastor Fox will be taking with him on his mission trip next week.

“Most of these kids have never had a toy in their life. Watching those kids, if I could just allow you to see the look on their face when they get something like that,” Fox said.

This year, he'll know that Alaina is the reason behind those smiles.

“I just wanted to help really bad. I just wanted to really help,” Alaina said.