CHAPEL HILL -- Santa and his elves were in the elevator, headed to the eighth floor.

"On we go," said Santa, aka volunteer Howard Carter, as the crew of a dozen red-coated volunteer elves in fuzzy caps descended on the UNC Hospitals geriatrics ward.

Is Rudolph going to lead the way? someone asked.

Rudolph, aka Matthew Wright, a local magician, balanced a stuffed penguin on his red rubber nose.

An elf pushed a cart full of dozens more stuffed penguins, gifts from Santa for the adult patients of UNC Hospitals. About two dozen hospital volunteers gave out penguins Thursday morning; Santa will visit the children's floors with other gifts on Christmas Eve.

"Do you want to see Santa?" the elves asked, knocking on doors and tucking penguins into the crooks of elderly arms.

Rudolph balanced an orthopedic cane on his nose.

The elderly woman in the wheelchair giggled.

"How's breakfast today?" Santa asked a gray-haired man sitting by the window. The man didn't answer. "Oh, looks pretty good!" Santa said.

The nurses on the seventh floor -- rehabilitation -- thanked the elves as they handed out candy canes.

An elf handed a penguin to a one-legged man as he was pushed down the hall on a gurney. The man smiled and squeezed the penguin.

Another elf placed a penguin outside a door marked "Contact Precautions," which means the patient has a potentially contagious infection.

Santa disinfected his hands with a bottle of antibacterial foam mounted on the corridor wall.

"Oh my goodness!" shrieked Brenda Jackson lying on her bed wearing a cervical collar and a pair of purple sweat pants, as Santa handed her a penguin. Jackson, 26, has been in the hospital for nearly two months following a car accident.

"I'm just like a child," she said. "I feel very better today because Santa came and brought me a present."