Juniper, 16 years old, VA

Wish submitted by:

Juniper is a thoughtful, gentle, and quietly funny young woman who has spent much of her life in foster care and is currently in residential treatment, working through years of instability and loss. Art has always been a meaningful way for her to express emotions that are difficult to put into words. Despite the challenges she has faced, Juniper continues to work toward healing and dreams of becoming an art therapist so she can help other young people express themselves through creativity.

Juniper’s colored pencils are some of her most treasured belongings. She knows each one by heart, from the soft gray she reaches for on heavy days to the bright orange that comes out when she feels hopeful. But after so many pages of coloring, her favorites are worn down to stubs, and some of her shades have disappeared altogether. A fresh set of colored pencils, with a wide, rich range of colors, would give her all the shades she needs to express every feeling, from the quietest to the boldest. They would pair perfectly with her coloring book and give her a calm, creative outlet amid the hard, important work she is doing to heal. For a girl who speaks so beautifully through color, a new set says her voice matters.