Willa, 16 years old, VA

Wish submitted by:

Willa practices her dance routines in the laundromat while her clothes spin in the dryer. When the machines hum, she hears a beat, and the long, empty aisle between the washers becomes her stage, a place where she can lose herself in movement for a few quiet minutes. Willa entered foster care as a child, and she has moved between homes so often that she has learned to practice wherever there is space: hallways, school stairwells, a patch of cleared floor in a bedroom. Dance is the one thing that travels with her, and it has carried her through every unfamiliar room and every new school. It lets her say what she can’t put into words, and it makes her feel strong when so much else feels out of her control. Willa is energetic, kind, and quick to cheer for her friends. She is working hard in school and dreams of becoming a choreographer and dance teacher, someone who gives young people a place to move, belong, and shine. She has made a life out of finding a rhythm in every place she lands, and she is ready for the cold months ahead.

Every cold morning, Willa stands at the bus stop in a jacket too thin for the weather and too small for her frame, shifting from foot to foot to stay warm. A thick, cozy winter coat made for freezing temperatures would let her focus on her day rather than the chill. It would carry her to school, to practice, and through every long walk in between, wrapping her in warmth she can count on. For a girl who has gone without so many things, a coat chosen just for her is a gift she will feel with every step.