Little Boy Organizes Big Toy Drive For Kids At Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA

MOORPARK  (CBSLA.com) —  A little 10-year-old boy is showing what it means to have a big heart.

Kadin Hoven is, himself, being treated at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.

He told CBS2's Kristine Lazar why he decided to organize a big toy drive -- because they're not just for the holidays!

Hoven said he's on a mission to gather toys for hospitalized kids to brighten their days during non-holiday times.

The 10-year-old has the energy of any kid but his body is failing him due to kidney disease.

"In his 10 years," says his mom Heidi, "he's gone through two kidney transplants, he's on dialysis five nights a week. We're working towards finding a donor for his third kidney transplant."

Two weeks ago, he was receiving an infusion at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.

He went into the toy room, where all the patients can pick something out, and the cabinet was nearly empty.

"I thought, wow," said Kadin. "I was feeling bad for people who don't have a lot of stuff to choose from. So, I thought, why not do a donation?"

Kadin approached his mom, a kindergarten teacher, about having a toy drive at her school and his.

"I thought, at the beginning, there won't be a lot of toys," says Kadin. "Maybe we will get some at least. But, here I am ... and it's awesome!"

That's an understatement.

His living room is now filled with about 250 toys; he's also received hundreds of dollars in cash donations.

"I am impressed every time I walk into this room," he said.

And he should be.

"We love any donation we get from anybody," said Kellye Carroll, a spokesperson for the hospital, "but when you get it from a kiddo, who has been treated here, it makes it even more special."

"I think when kids see all this in the cabinet, they're going to think, my mind is blown," said Kadin.

His mom said Kadin wants to make the non-holiday toy drive an annual event.

"He is a selfless little boy," says his mom, "beyond his years."

Kadin and his mom hope to deliver all the donations next Wednesday, and in the meantime, he's hoping that the toy pile continues to grow.

For more information about donating to Kadin's program, click here.