Dominic, 10 years old, VA | 1 DAY WAITING | NEEDED BY 10/16

Wish submitted by:

Cooking has become one of the few things that still connects Dominic to home. He can recite his grandmother's cornbread recipe from memory, even though he hasn't lived with her in years, and he loves helping in the kitchen, watching cooking shows, and experimenting with simple recipes whenever his foster family lets him take the lead. Since entering care, Dominic has moved through three placements, and that instability has made him quick to brace for the worst, often asking caregivers early on how long he'll be staying this time. He's remarkably responsible for his age, sometimes to a fault, often stepping into a caretaker role with younger kids in his placements. He does well in school and has a solid group of friends, but trusting that a good situation will actually last remains hard for him. Dominic has had to grow up faster than most kids his age, and he deserves the security of a lasting home where he can finally just be a kid again.

Dominic's careful, detail-oriented nature, the same quality that makes him such a thoughtful cook, would translate perfectly to building his own pinball machine through this STEM kit. As a kid who loves science, working through each step to understand how the mechanics come together would give him a rewarding project to focus on, along with a real sense of accomplishment once it's finished and working. For a boy who has learned to expect change and instability, having a project that rewards patience and careful effort offers a grounding kind of satisfaction that's rare for him. This kit would give Dominic a fun, hands-on challenge that combines his love of science with genuine pride in something he built himself, start to finish.