Havallen, 20 years old, NY |

Wish submitted by:

Havallen is a sour patch when you 1st meet her. She may be a little rough to deal with, but with time and consistency, she is the sweetest girl you may know. She does not hold back on advocating for herself, which is one of her greatest strengths. She has been in care for a couple of years. She deals with the passing of her father the best way she can and attends therapy often. She is currently trying to graduate from high school and working to pass 1 more Regents. She resides wth her aunt and hopes that after finally passing her Regents, she can go away to college.

Heaven is asking for a Chipotle gift card because having access to food she genuinely enjoys would make a meaningful difference for her. As one of the older youth on my caseload, she carries a lot of responsibility and maturity, but like many young adults in foster care, she doesn’t always get the chance to choose the foods she likes. Heaven is a very picky eater, and finding meals that feel comforting and familiar to her can be difficult. Chiptole is one of the places where she knows she can get something she actually enjoys. With Christmas coming, the gift of food is one of the simplest yet most impactful ways to make her feel seen and cared for. A gift card would allow Heaven the independence to pick out a meal on her own terms. It gives her a moment of comfort, a small celebration during the holidays, and a reminder that she deserves to have her preferences valued, just like any other young person.