Willa, 16 years old, VA | 2 DAYS WAITING

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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.

When the wind picks up, Willa’s hands and ears are the first to go numb, and she tucks her fingers into her sleeves to keep them warm. A hat and glove set would protect her from the cold on her walks and bus rides, and it would keep her hands warm enough to move freely when she gets to practice. It’s a cozy, cheerful touch that makes winter mornings easier, and it would show her that someone was thinking about her comfort.