BRISTOL — Some people just do it naturally. They smile at someone else, open a door for them, lend an ear or lend a hand. In general they make someone’s day better or a little bit easier and expect nothing in return.

Knowingly or unknowingly these people are part of an international movement called Pay it Forward. The idea is simple: Do a good deed for three people and tell them to return the favor by doing a good deed for three more people.

The Fourth Annual Karsyn Bell Pay it Forward Festival Saturday at Congdon Park in Bristol is the result of one life-saving act of kindness.

On Dec. 1, 1991, Debbie Micola (then Debbie Rice) was driving in Elkhart with her daughter, 7-year-old Christen. On a section of bridge over Pine Creek, she steered the car to avoid pieces of another car that had just struck a deer. Her car hit and flipped over the guardrail, landing upside down in 3 feet of water.

“The paramedic couldn’t believe it, but I broke my window with my hands to get out,” Micola said.

What she couldn’t do was get Christen out of the car.

But two men who were in the car ahead of hers, Luis Bicknell and Dan Watson came quickly to the rescue.

By then, the overturned car had rocked in the water, caving in both the driver and passenger doors.

“The job they had to do seemed to be made for them,” Micola remembered. “One of them was a big guy and he was able to just pry the door open. The other man, who was a smaller guy, was able to squeeze in and get her out.”

Micola wanted so much to do something for these two men who saved her daughter’s life, but they wouldn’t accept any kind of payment.

“They told me that when the time comes, to help someone else,” Micola said.

She took that advice to heart.

Soon she began volunteering at a local food bank.

“One day when I was working a gentleman and his two kids came in to get food and we had run out,” Micola said. “I cried all the way home.”

After hearing her story, Micola’s husband Simon had an idea.

The two had played Santa and Mrs. Claus for years. He suggested they ask for donations of food to have a picture taken with the Christmas couple.

“Honestly, I thought that was all we’d ever do,” Micola said. “But so many non-profit organizations need help. They are working so hard just to keep things going. They often don’t have time to do any fundraising.”

With these experiences, Santa’s Pantry was created.

Micola has been the one-woman force behind dozens of projects aimed at helping local non-profits and teaching people how easy and inexpensive it is to Pay it Forward. She is president and founder of Santa’s Pantry and she and her husband are the Indiana state coordinators and northern Indiana directors of Pay it Forward.

“If I work a 60-hour week, that’s a short week for me!” Micola smiled. “But I love doing it. My heart is in this. I absolutely love seeing the faces of the people we help and inspire.”

Santa’s Pantry Inc. has collected more than 25,000 pounds of food for local pantries, 1,700 books to distribute, 1,500 boxes of school supplies, 1,000 personal care items as well as monetary donations for 501C(3) non-profit organizations.

Volunteers of all ages have picked blueberries for pantries, planted community gardens, held car washes, made cards for seniors and shut-ins, held a Skate-for-Food, Fill a Classroom for Food, and held a Santa Fun Stroll in Elkhart. Those participating in the 5K Walk/Run were required to wear something “Christmassy.” Micola is also responsible for establishing several 4-H Pay it Forward clubs. Currently she is trying to bring back Elkhart’s Winterfest with the help of National Honor Society students from Elkhart Central High School.

The Karsyn Bell Pay it Forward Festival is one of the organization’s premier events.

“Karsyn Bell was a 4-year-old girl from Bristol who had brain cancer,” Micola said. “I understand she was a shining example of how to Pay it Forward ­— always making other people smile. She would just walk in a room and light it up.”

Micola didn’t know Karsyn, but had heard about the girl during the first Pay it Forward Festival and was touched by her story.

“I wasn’t sure how they would respond, but I asked her parents if I could name the festival in her memory,” Micola said. “They were thrilled.”

The day’s events include a pirate show, a fire spinning performance, a clown show, a puppet show, train rides, horse and carriage rides, tomahawk throwing, fireman’s tug-of-war, bed races and a martial arts demonstration.

New to the line-up this year is a children’s game area with a treasure hunt, and a parent-child obstacle course.

Between a 50/50 drawing every 15 minutes and a Pop it Forward balloon game, door prizes worth more than $500 are given out. More than 50 craft and commercial vendors set up shop at the festival and 4-H clubs bring their animals for the public to enjoy.

Admission to the festival is a cash or nonperishable food donation.

“We want to raise funds and food for local non-profit organizations, celebrate family time and teach others how simple and inexpensive it is to Pay it Forward. We want to promote random acts of kindness,” Micola said.

Micola said volunteers and donations are still needed to help make the Karsyn Bell Pay it Forward Festival a success. For more information on how to help, visit www.santaspantry.org.