Maddox, 1 year old, VA | 12 DAYS WAITING | NEEDED BY 10/16

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Maddx is a persistent, physical little guy who loves crawling at top speed, pulling up on anything within reach, and shrieking with delight when he's chased around the living room. Maddox came into foster care as an infant after concerns about neglect in his birth home. He has spent his time bonding with a foster family who has worked hard to help him catch up on some early developmental delays. He's making great progress, learning more and more each week, and he lights up at the sound of other children playing nearby. Maddox is resilient and determined. He has already overcome a lot in his short life, and he deserves continued stability, patience, and encouragement as he keeps growing and catching up.

Kids in foster care often end up moving their belongings from place to place in a trash bag, and a suitcase of his own would give Maddox something so many kids in his situation don't get: dignity in how he carries the pieces of his life. This need has become especially real now that Maddox has started overnight visits with his biological family, meaning his things are traveling back and forth more regularly than ever. At his age, this playful astronaut-themed suitcase would also double as a fun toy, something he can push around and explore while his caregivers pack it with his favorite things. For a little boy who has already experienced real instability, having something as simple as a proper suitcase means one less indignity to carry along with him.