Carmella, 16 years old, CT | NEEDED BY 02/06

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Carmella's foster care journey has shaped her into a deeply caring young woman who finds purpose in connection and community. She's someone who remembers everyone's birthday, asks how people are really doing, and creates warmth wherever she goes. At her residential program, Carmella is known for making others feel valued and seen; she's the friend who notices when someone's having a hard day and shows up with a kind word or gesture. She pours so much energy into caring for others that she sometimes forgets to care for herself. What makes Carmella extraordinary is her generous heart and her growing understanding that she can't pour from an empty cup, and her dream is to build a life surrounded by mutual care where giving and receiving love flow freely.

Carmella's request for Valentine's pajamas beautifully illustrates her journey towards embracing self-care, a quality she so generously extends to others. By having special pajamas for Valentine's Day, she creates a tangible reminder that she, too, deserves thoughtfulness and celebration. These pajamas will be worn at a Galentine's party, an event dedicated to uplifting girls and showing them that they are worthy of care, honor, and recognition. Many of these young women, including those who have faced the trauma of sex trafficking, have often found themselves in one-sided relationships, giving everything and receiving only hurt in return. This gathering is designed to model what mutual care and authentic love look like—safe, honoring, and freely given. Providing comfortable sleepwear is a simple yet meaningful act of self-care that someone who is often focused on others can easily overlook.