MUNSTER | Dimitri Dovellos couldn't wait for his 9th birthday to go shopping for presents -- not for himself, but for children at The Community Hospital.

The third-grader at Protsman Elementary School in Dyer turned 9 on April 17.

Armed with about $300 in gift cards and weekly allowances of $5 since January, the young Schererville resident and his mother, Georgiean Dovellos, went to purchase gifts.

Dovellos said her son picked all the items, including baby things, Barbie dolls, handheld electronic games, craft kits, puzzles and coloring books.

"She typed out the cards and I signed them," Dimitri said. "We did 100 cards and I colored them. Everyone can do something nice for someone else, even if they don't know them."

On May 6, the two traveled to The Community Hospital bringing five double-sized, plastic bins filled with toys and cards for infants to 18-year-olds.

"I am blessed with so much that I like to give them some toys or some happiness," the youngster said. "They might not be with a parent or older brother or sister and I wanted them to feel someone was thinking about them."

The inspiration for the generosity came when Dimitri received a flu shot at the hospital. He asked what happened to younger patients who might not be able to leave the hospital. He thought about it over the Christmas holidays, and collected about 80 percent of his own toys to give away.

And when he realized he only had toys for boys, he asked friends and relatives to help with donations.

Daniel and Kathy Paucak were with their 3-year-old son, Valentino, when Dimitri entered the room with kind words, a toy and a card.

"I think this is pretty outstanding for a young boy to be doing something like this," said Daniel Paucak, of Lowell. "I was impressed by his compassion and the nice words he said to each family. That was the greatest example of selflessness to even show my kids."

Jean Gardner, pediatric nurse manager, said Dimitri's gesture had a great impact on the staff.

"We were impressed someone that age wanted to be concerned about giving, and having that kind of foresight and care," Gardner said. "We get a lot of things, but he was personally involved and definitely brightened up their day."