Maren, 20 years old, VA | 5 DAYS WAITING

Wish submitted by:

Maren believes every room should smell like someone loves you. Maren entered foster care as a child, and she remembers each new home by its scent: fried onions in one, laundry soap in another, and the sharp smell of bleach in a place that never felt like hers. Those smells taught her how deeply a place can shape how safe you feel. When she was old enough to light her first candle, she discovered she could create comfort wherever she was. Now, she is learning to make her own, pouring scents she dreams up herself into small jars that bring a little peace to anyone who lights them. Maren works part-time at a pharmacy and takes business classes, saving every dollar toward her dream of opening her own small candle shop. She is gentle, resourceful, and full of ideas, with a talent for turning her own experiences into something that helps others feel at home. She knows what it’s like to wish for a place that feels safe, and she is determined to bring that feeling to everyone who walks through her door.

Maren has dreamed up candle scents for years, but she's only been able to experiment in small batches with whatever supplies she could afford. A candle-making kit would give her everything she needs to begin pouring her own creations, with wax, wicks, jars, and fragrance oils all in one place. It would be the first real step toward her dream of opening a shop, and a chance to turn her gift for creating comfort into something she can share with the world.