Iris, 18 years old, VA | NEEDED BY 11/06

Wish submitted by:

Iris grew up in foster care in another country, and by the time she arrived in the United States as a teenager, she had learned to carry her whole life in a single bag and quietly hope the next place might finally be home. She has since navigated a new language, a new school, and a new culture, often without family nearby to translate, comfort her, or celebrate her milestones. Now an adult, she has learned to stand on her own, working part-time at a bakery and studying hard to finish her diploma. She dreams of becoming a pastry chef, and she bakes whenever she can, filling her tiny kitchen with the smell of recipes she wrote down from memory. Iris is soft-spoken and determined, someone who rarely asks for help, though she carries more than anyone should have to carry alone. She has already shown extraordinary courage, rebuilding her life twice over, and she deserves a community that cheers loudly for her as she builds the future she’s worked so hard to earn.

Iris is ready to start running. A pair of burgundy sneakers would support her as she starts safely and encourage her to keep going, and the color is a small, joyful detail that makes them unmistakably hers. Between early bakery shifts, studying, and building a life from scratch, she rarely gets to invest in herself, and this gift tells her she’s worth it. Your gift would give Iris a fresh start with a healthy new habit and remind her she’s not running alone.