The spirit of giving was alive and well this holiday season in Kunkletown.

Alyssa Kroeger, a seventh-grade National Junior Honor Society student at Pleasant Valley Middle School, bought 55 pairs of heated socks, wrapped them and delivered them to residents at Getz Personal Care Home, where she volunteers.

“I just wanted to do something nice for them,” Kroeger, 12, said. “They probably don’t get a lot, and this brought a lot of smiles to their faces.”

She purchased the socks with her own money, an idea sparked by the time she already spent with the Getz residents.

“I like to just go there and sit down to talk with the residents,” Kroeger said. “They enjoy the conversation and I enjoy learning about the things they did when they were younger. We talk about our families and past experiences.”

Alyssa’s mom, Stephanie, said her daughter loves making people smile.

“She is a very kindhearted person who is always thinking of others,” Stephanie said.

When the sock delivery took place recently, Getz residents couldn’t hide their excitement.

“One of them said she needed socks just like that, and another said her pair were her favorite color,” Alyssa said. “They were so excited. It was great to see them smile.”

Alyssa’s volunteer efforts extend beyond the personal care home. She has also made past donations to Pawsitively Purrfect Rescue in Nesquehoning, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping neglected and abandoned dogs and cats.

Although just in middle school, she already has an idea of what her future may entail. It’s no surprise that it includes helping others.

“I’d like to become a pediatrician,” Alyssa said. “I’ve known that probably since the beginning of sixth grade. I love kids and I just think that’s a job I would enjoy.”