KUNA, Idaho — Rob Cook treasures the few photos he has of his son, Daniel, whose life was tragically cut short in a school bus accident 11 years ago. Those pictures are a link to a past that no longer exists.
“We don’t have the blessing of any more than what we had when he passed away, and those pictures are great treasures,” Rob said.
The memories of Daniel, now a central part of his father's life, are deeply rooted in moments that speak to his son’s infectious spirit. "I just miss how the room would light up when he walked in," Rob recalls. "How he could make you smile and laugh and just do the goofiest things."
On December 5, 2013, Daniel's mother sent him off to school, like any other day. "They had some really cool time that they spent together while they were waiting for the bus," Rob said.
But that day would soon turn tragic. Rob remembers stepping outside to find flashing emergency lights around every corner of the nearby intersection.
"I opened the front door and stepped out on the deck, and there were emergency red lights off every leg of that four-way intersection," Rob described.
That morning, a crash between a school bus and a dump truck claimed Daniel's life. Four other students were injured, but Daniel was the only fatality.
A subsequent investigation revealed the cause of the crash: the school bus had rolled through a stop sign, into the path of the oncoming truck. The intersection, a two-way stop, meant the truck did not have to stop.
Years later, Rob would learn a heartbreaking detail about his son's final moments.
"Daniel actually lost his life protecting the girl in the seat in front of him," Rob said. "He went to dive over his seat and lost his life in the crash."
As the years passed, the Kuna community found ways to keep Daniel's memory alive. Together with his family, Rob helped establish the Daniel Cook Memorial Toy Drive, an annual event to honor the boy who gave so much, even in death.
"We came up with the idea together to donate Daniel’s gifts that he would have gotten for Christmas and his birthday," Rob explained. "That has evolved into the annual Daniel Cook Memorial Toy Drive."
The 2024 Daniel Cook Memorial Toy Drive is scheduled for Dec. 7 at Ridley’s in Kuna on Meridian Road.
The donations, which include new unwrapped toys, gift cards, and monetary contributions, go back to the Kuna School District. The Cook family’s hope is that every contribution, no matter how small, can make a difference for a child in need.
"If we get just one toy, we’ve helped one child, and it was worth it," Rob said.
For Rob, the toy drive and community support is a way to honor the heroism of his son and the lessons he imparted.
"I learned to coin the phrase 'two seconds of kindness,’" Rob said. "Holding a door, shaking a hand, smiling at someone, saying hello—two seconds of kindness will validate another life. And if people learn anything, this is what I learned from Daniel."
Daniel’s story has become a beacon of kindness and generosity for the Kuna community, ensuring that his legacy will live on for years to come.