Mateo, 17 years old, VA | 4 DAYS WAITING | NEEDED BY 11/06

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Mateo laces up his cleats like it’s the most important ritual of his day, and on the soccer field, he moves with a calm, confident grace that disappears the moment he steps off it. Soccer is the one place where he’s never the new kid, where the rules are the same in every town, and where a good pass speaks louder than anything he’s ever been able to say out loud. He has been in foster care since he was 11, moving through six placements and three high schools, which means he’s had to prove himself to a new set of coaches and teammates over and over again. Through it all, he’s kept showing up early, practicing alone, and quietly hoping for one full season with the same team. He’s also nearing the end of his time in care, with graduation on the horizon and a future he’s trying to build largely on his own. Mateo rarely talks about what he’s carried, but his teammates know he’d give his last pair of cleats to anyone who needed them. He deserves a community that shows up for him the way he’s always shown up for everyone else.

For Mateo, who is nearing the end of his time in foster care, a bike is much more than a fun ride. It’s freedom and independence on two wheels, a reliable way to get to soccer practice, school, and the part-time job he hopes to find, without depending on someone else’s schedule or a ride that might not come. Mateo has spent years adapting to new neighborhoods and routines, and having his own wheels would let him explore, earn, and get where he needs to go on his own terms. It’s the kind of practical gift this holiday season that opens doors, especially for a boy who has had to build a life with very little handed to him.