But his classmates and teachers at Philadelphia Elementary School in Loudon County, Tennessee, jumped in to action.
The entire third grade chipped in and secretly held a toy drive to replace some of his possessions that were destroyed in the fire.
They posted their efforts on the school's Facebook page with #37846Reasons, the number signifying the town's ZIP Code.
"I sat and cried at work for a good 45 minutes. I'm just so overwhelmed at all the love and the community coming together for us. It's just very overwhelming and a blessing," Daniel's mother, Kristen Hunt, told WVLT.
Daniel and his mother are staying with family after the fire burned their home on Sept. 21. Water had to be trucked to the scene, WVLT reported at the time of the blaze.
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