RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - If you ask Marlee Crowder what she wants to be when she grows up, she doesn't have the answer just yet. As a fourth grader at Sunny View Elementary, she stays pretty busy, but there's one thing that doesn't change.

"I just like helping other people."

Marlee lives in Western North Carolina, which was devastated after Hurricane Helene. Marlee's home was okay, but the damage was still personal.

"One of my friends in the school, his house got hit," said Marlee.

Marlee's mom, April, said it was hard for Marlee to see a friend lose nearly everything.

"She saw that he had lost pretty much everything and what he did have that was salvageable, it might not have been what he wanted."

Marlee set out on a mission. With Christmas just a few months after Helene, she knew Santa might need some extra help getting presents to people who, like her friend, lost their homes.

"It was hard to keep my mouth shut about it because I can't keep secrets really well," Marlee said.

Marlee organized a fundraiser at her church, held just a few weeks before Christmas. It featured hot chocolate, food, a silent auction, and even a Polar Express driven by Santa himself.

"She had great ideas," April said. "I mean she pretty much planned what she wanted and we just went with it and let her take the lead with it."

Marlee ended up raising nearly $7,000, which provided Christmas presents for 15 children.

Her dad says it's no surprise Marlee wanted to help.

"Most kids her age wouldn't even think of doing something like that," said Brian. "Even a lot of adults don't help out like that, so we're very proud of her...she's always had a big heart for others ever since she was born."

As for Marlee, she has a message for other kids like herself.

"If you see anybody that's in need, you can help them."