“Are you Santa’s daughter?” Franklin Leroy Ross asked with a chuckle as the young woman dressed in a red T-shirt and festive holiday hat walked into his patient room Friday afternoon at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

Sarah Williamson, a University of Georgia student and longtime volunteer at the hospital, laughed right back as she handed Ross a Christmas card made by students at local high schools.

Ross flashed a big, bright smile that belied his 80 years.

Throughout the day, patients were delightfully surprised when Williamson, Connor Grady and Indira Islas handed out stuffed animals, flowers and cards with well wishes. Even the nurses and staff were greeted warmly with cookies and gift cards.

All three have volunteered at the hospital for several years, and they also visited the new hospital in Braselton on Christmas Day.

So what keeps them coming back?

“It’s definitely the friends that I’ve made,” Williamson said.

Grady described his commitment to giving back year in and year out as an investment in the community.

“You can’t just do it once,” he said.

Islas also feels the pull, and it helps that three have fun serving others, she said.

That positive spirit shined when the three volunteers walked into the patient room of 13-month-old Noah Bergman.

His parents, David and Ashley, happily welcomed the volunteers while the excited little boy, who was recovering from pneumonia, brought joy to everyone around.

“Thank you,” Ashley said.