A 5-year-old student at Breeze Hill Elementary School in Southern California came to the rescue of her fellow students when she learned some had trouble paying for lunch.

Katelynn Hardee was confused after overhearing a parent talk about difficulties paying for after-school programs at the Vista, California, school.

“I just tried to explain to her that sometimes people aren’t as fortunate and that we need to try to be kind and give when we can,” Karina Hardee, Katelynn’s mom, told CNN.

The kindergartener took the message to heart.

On Dec. 8, Katelynn spent her day selling hot cocoa, cider and cookies. She was able to raise $80, which her and her mom donated to the school to pay off the negative lunch balance of 123 students.

Breeze Hill Principal Lori Higley said that Katelynn’s act of kindness sparked a conversation among the other students on how they, too, can make a difference.

Katelynn is determined to not only continue paying off negative lunch balances at her own elementary school in her mission #KikisKindnessProject, but to help students across the Vista Unified School System pay off their accounts.

After accounts are paid off, she will put the extra money toward supporting school systems that would otherwise be removed due to budget cuts.

A Fundly page was set up to donate to #KikisKindnessProject to support the Breeze Hill and Vista communities. As of Tuesday afternoon, $635 out of a goal of $50,000 has been raised.