David, 22 years old, VA | NEEDED BY 10/09

Wish submitted by:

David traveled to the United States alone as an unaccompanied minor, entering the foster care system as a teenager with no family nearby and an entirely new country, language, and culture to navigate. He aged out of care with limited support and has had to build an independent life almost entirely on his own since. Despite these challenges, David is resourceful and hardworking and is currently employed in a warehouse job. At the same time, he saves toward his goal of enrolling in a technical program to become an HVAC technician. He enjoys soccer, cooking meals from his home country, and connecting with a small community of friends who understand what it's like to start over in an unfamiliar place. He's quiet about his past but deeply resilient, carrying himself with a steady determination to build the stability and sense of home he didn't have growing up.

For his birthday, David is unsure of what to ask for. An Amazon gift card would let David choose something meaningful to him, on his own terms, whether that's something practical he's been putting off buying for himself or a small treat he wouldn't normally splurge on. For a young man who came to this country alone and has had to be self-sufficient in ways most people his age never have to be, this gift is about more than the item itself. It's an invitation to know that his birthday, and his wants, matter.