A preschool director in Indiana is picking up extra hours at a side gig in order to play Santa Claus for 50 young students excited to open presents on Christmas morning.

Renee Dixon works in the basement of Lynhurst Baptist Church in Indianapolis and is passionate about being a support system to students and their families, many of whom frequent the church’s food pantry. After realizing how the coronavirus pandemic might affect families this holiday season, she picked up a second job as a ride-share driver to purchase a cornucopia of presents to give out to students, The Washington Post reported.

With the pandemic restricting the economy, Dixon said she believes it's even more important for children to enjoy this holiday season.

“A lot of these kids were going to get nothing this year,” she said. “I know how that feels.”

Dixon grew up in a similar environment as many of the children she works to inspire, and now aims to make a difference in the community.

“My mom was a single mom, and we didn’t have much,” Dixon said. “Certain things I wanted her to get me, she couldn’t. It hurt then, but now, as an adult, I understand.”

It was four years ago that Dixon first decided to take on the extra hours as a driver with Uber. In November, she started driving for both Uber and Lyft from 6 p.m. until about 2 a.m. on weekdays, and more than double that amount of time driving on the weekends, according to The Post.

"So many of our families don’t have money to get Christmas presents this year. Some parents have lost their jobs, others have had their wages cut back," Dixon said. "A lot of them already come from low-income families and are below the poverty line."

In regards to the long work days she’s acquired, Dixon added, “I can’t rest. These kids need me.”

For each $100 she earns, Dixon takes a trip to the nearest Target to buy gifts, presents and games that she later stores in stacks in her office space. Puzzles, dolls, Lego sets, board games and other trinkets are popular items that students have wanted to see under their tree, and Dixon works to see to it that they enjoy the things they want this Christmas.

Dixon’s students range in age from one to 12, as the church offers tutoring programs for older children before and after school hours, according to The Post. Each student, and their siblings, will receive a gift from the school and a separate gift from Santa.

April Eberly, a 38-year-old parent of three students, said Dixon’s gifts were extremely timely and helped her focus on other needs.

“It’s really taking a load off,” Eberly said. “The bills add up, and we would love the help this year. I am very appreciative that she is taking her time to work a second job.”

Dixon has raised $2,500 to date and has made enough to uphold her pledge to her students this Christmas, according to People. But she maintains her gig with the ride-sharing companies because of her commitment to the needs of her students.

“Everything I’m doing is for these kids right now,” Dixon said. “Their world has turned upside down, and it’s no fault of their own. They deserve this from me.”

Uber representatives told People that the company has matched Dixon’s $2,500 donation this year.

"We're humbled by Renee's kindness, and we're delighted to help her efforts go twice as far for her community," an Uber spokesperson said. "With this gift, we're wishing Renee and her students a safe and joyful holiday season."

With all of Dixon’s efforts going to support the young people of her community, her own children are supporting their mom’s ambition and sacrificing some gifts this year.

“My mom has always had a love for children. She is always looking to help younger kids at this time of year,” Dixon’s 26-year-old daughter Vemirah Johnson said.

With times being rough on millions of Americans, Dixon said she hopes parents across the nation understand that educators are there for them.

"And I want people to know that we as early childhood educators, we're out here with you fighting," Dixon told Good Morning America.

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