Troy, 16 years old, VA

Wish submitted by:

Troy came into foster care shortly after his grandfather, who had been raising him, passed away from a terminal illness. He's had to navigate a lot on his own, since his father is incarcerated and he was removed from his mother years ago due to her substance abuse and neglect. Despite the upheaval, Troy is determined to build a normal life and hopes to join the military after he graduates next year. He's hurting right now, but he's holding on tightly to his goals for the future.

Troy lost nearly everything he owned in a house fire before entering foster care, including his clothes and shoes, and now he's starting his junior year at a brand new school. He wants to try out for the basketball team next month, but he doesn't have shoes he can play in. A new pair of shoes would help him make that team and feel like he belongs. More than that, it would show Troy that people care about his dreams even during one of the hardest chapters of his life.