Luca, 19 years old, OR

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Luca is an incredibly talented artist who expresses himself through painting and original digital art, and is teaching himself to sew. He has been in and out of foster care his entire life, beginning with his initial removal from his mother’s care at birth due to fetal drug exposure. He was most recently returned to care in 2022 and benefited from being placed with a relative whose support was instrumental in getting him back on track with his high school credits so he could graduate on time. Over and over, he has tackled life's challenges and succeeded. He has chosen to stay in foster care until he has to age out due to needing continued support, both financially and logistically, in the transition to adulthood.

Luca is starting his first year of college, living independently in the dorms for the first time. His dorm's main room, where his desk is, currently has no lighting, so he's hoping for a floor lamp to add function and a bit of his own style. His former resource home has very limited financial resources, with one adult supporting eight family members across four generations, so while his resource mom remains a strong source of emotional support, she isn't able to help financially. Navigating a restricted state subsidy on his own, Luca can't currently afford even small essentials like a lamp to furnish his new space.