Maren, 20 years old, VA | 1 DAY WAITING

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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.

Of all the things a new baby needs, diapers are the one thing that never runs out. Maren is working hard at the pharmacy and saving what she can, but she knows that once her baby arrives in November, every day will bring a new need. A supply of diapers would take one of the biggest worries off her shoulders, so she can focus on holding her baby, learning their sleepy little sounds, and settling into her new role as a mother. For a young woman who knows what it is to go without, having the basics covered is a gift that brings real peace.