3rd Grader Who Lost Everything In House Fire Surprised With Toys From Classmates

Nov 20, 2019 by apost team

Last month, Daniel Hunt from Tenessee watched his family home burn down with all his toys and belonging in it. 

To help cheer him up, his third-grade classmates decided to organize a toy drive for him. 

Hunt’s teacher Casey MacKintosh said in an interview with CNN that ‘everyone just wanted to help’ upon hearing about the tragic fire that engulfed the house. 

The teachers at Philadelphia Elementary School in central Tennessee then decided to organize a toy drive, where students could bring a toy of their choice to gift Hunt. 

apost.com

"It was very sweet and a lot of fun for the kids. They needed to keep it a secret, so they would walk in every morning that week whispering, 'I have this toy for Daniel hidden in my backpack,'" MacKintosh told the publication. 

The students collected toys for Hunt for a whole week. Then, on that Friday, MacKintosh sent the boy out to run an errand while the class got ready to surprise Hunt with the toys.

"When he came back, we yelled 'surprise!' and instead of rushing to the toys, he just held his arms opened and asked his classmates for a hug," said MacKintosh.

Hunt has since said the gesture has left him crying happy tears, with him feeling “joy in his stomach.” Kristen Wilburn, his mother, has said the boy won’t stop smiling since.

"It was a kitchen fire. I'm not sure how it happened, we found some bits and pieces that were salvageable -- my wedding ring made it-- but nothing else made it," his mom told CNN. "Daniel has been in awe on how many people have been willing to help us without being asked."

Although the family house was completely burnt down, the whole family is safe and currently staying with family members as they figure out where they will go from here. 

Have you ever heard of such a kind gesture carried out by such young children? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!