Thomas, 17 years old, MO

Wish submitted by:

Thomas is a young man who lives in a foster care residential home and has a unique sense of style and personality. He is a total sneakerhead who loves keeping up with the latest trends, cutting out pictures of his favorite shoes, and adding them to his vision board. Thomas also enjoys listening to music, playing video games, and gathering around the table for a good board game. He is deeply connected to the family he does have and is fiercely loyal to the people who have continued to stand by him. Those relationships mean a great deal to Thomas and give him a sense of belonging and connection. Beneath his love for sneakers, music, and games is a young man who values family, loyalty, and having people in his corner.

Living in a residential foster care setting can mean having very few things that truly feel like they belong to you, which makes personal items especially meaningful. A new pair of sneakers would give Thomas something he can choose for himself and use to express his personality and love for fashion. Being able to wear a pair of shoes that he feels proud of could help him feel more confident and comfortable in his own skin. Sneakers that reflect the latest trends would also help Thomas feel like he fits in with the other young men around him rather than feeling defined by his circumstances. For Thomas, these shoes would be more than just something to wear—they would be a way to stand out, feel like himself, and have something that is uniquely his. Having something he can call his own could bring a sense of pride, normalcy, and joy to his everyday life.