When Lake Highlands High School student Daniel Farrar saw how quickly temperatures can drop in North Texas, he decided no family in his community should face winter without a warm coat. This year, he launched Project Warmth, a neighborhood coat drive benefiting Hope 4 Lake Highlands, collecting gently used and new coats for families in need.

Though this is Daniel’s first year organizing the drive, his impact has already been impressive. “So far, we’ve collected over 130 coats,” he shared. “My goal was to make sure the whole family, not just the kids, has something warm to wear this winter.”

Each week, Daniel spends time coordinating porch pick-ups, posting donation updates on social media, sorting coats by size and gender, and delivering them to Hope for Lake Highlands. He’s also thinking ahead, hoping to grow the project over the next few years. “Next year, I’d love to know the specific needs of each family so I can collect one coat per person,” he said.

Giving back runs in Daniel's family. Daniel’s mom has volunteered with Hope 4 Lake Highlands for more than six years and previously organized her own coat drive. “A lot of the families they help were also part of Pamper Lake Highlands, where my mom worked,” Daniel explained. “We thought this would be a meaningful way to continue helping.”

As Daniel plans to continue Project Warmth through high school, he hopes more neighbors will join in. “The community support has been amazing,” he said. “If people want to get involved, donating coats, clothes, or diapers to Hope 4 Lake Highlands makes a huge difference.”

With his heart for service and commitment to his neighbors, Daniel is proving that even one student’s idea can help keep an entire community warm.