Cool Kid Daniel Rodriguez delivers flowers to brighten days

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (KABC) -- This week's ABC7 Cool Kid is Daniel Rodriguez, who delivers flowers to brighten people's days.

The 17 year-old from Santa Clarita started The Sunshine Project, which aims to help those dealing with depression or anxiety.

The project also wants to help those under stress or people looking to have a better day.

"We hope to brighten their days by giving them sunflowers. If you understand the pun, sunflower, sunshine," Rodriguez said with a smile.

Once someone is nominated, they receive a hand-delivered sunflower with a granola bar, a bottle of water and a note of encouragement which reads:

"We hope this makes your day brighter, please know that what you are going through is not forever, please know that you are loved and cared for and we hope this serves as a reminder."

Rodriguez said he knows what it's like to battle with depression and bipolar disorder. He admitted making others feel better has also helped him out.

"It definitely has showed me show that there are a lot more good days and this project has been, in many ways, a form of therapy," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez has already delivered about 100 flowers and he hopes to deliver 1,000 by the end of his senior year.

"I want to help inspire people to be there for people," he said.

Know an amazing young person making a difference in the community? Learn how to nominate them to be an ABC7 Cool Kid at abc7.com/coolkids.