Christmas came a little early at the Union Gospel Mission in Sioux Falls, thanks to a special group of elves from Hills, Minnesota.

These kids from Hills Christian started a mission of their own a few weeks ago.

"To help kids that don't have toys," third grader Hunter Bork said.

The goal was to collect enough cash to purchase presents for children who may not receive one this Christmas.  The school's 29 students collected more than $300 in cash and then did their best to maximize their money at the store.

"We bought like cars for the boys and dolls for the girls." fifth grader Leah Buys said.

Hills Christian holds a gift drive every year, but every third year the students get a little more involved. "Everybody goes shopping and then we bring them here and get to tour everything," seventh grader Abbie Bakker said.

That tour can be an eye-opening experience and an educational one, too.

"The affect that has on this group of kids, let alone who receives the group of kids/it is, you bet we take for granted so much of what we have," Mission Director Fran Stenberg said.

And this special delivery right before the holidays is a Godsend for those who man the Mission.

"Christmas Day the kids will go through the line in there and the same kind of smiles will be on the recipient as the givers were today," Stenberg said.

And it helps teach the true meaning of Christmas in a fun way.

"Because we're giving to other people and not receiving," Leah Buys said.

After splitting-up the money, each student had $11 to spend on a toy. Students from Sioux Falls Christian also visited the Mission on Thursday to help pack Holiday Food Boxes for about 100 families in the Sioux Falls area.