Hallie Colteryahn, 5, sits between her parents Jamie and Savannah Colteryahn of Prospect. On her own initiative, Hallie has spent the last two weeks collecting money to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Submitted Photo

PROSPECT — Hallie Colteryahn is only 5 years old, but it looks like she’s already learned the meaning of Christmas.

The only child of Jamie and Savannah Colteryahn has spent the last two weeks collecting money from relatives and strangers to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Hallie has even donated her own savings, turning the contents of her bank over to the cause, said her grandmother and neighbor Susan Ziegler.

“She went into her room and pulled out her bank and said ‘I want to give my money to St. Jude. These kids need it more than I do,’” Ziegler said.

Ziegler believes her granddaughter got the idea from seeing St. Jude’s commercials while watching television at Ziegler’s house. Ziegler said the ads featuring children without hair made a strong impression on Hallie.

“I’m her grandma, so I explained it to her. She said ‘I’m going to donate to St. Jude’s’, which I though was so dear,” she said.