Josie, 14 years old, VA | 1 DAY WAITING | NEEDED BY 10/30

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Josie and her nine brothers and sisters were separated for a time when they entered foster care. For a while, their family lived in pieces, scattered between different homes and different rules, and Josie did her best to be a steady big sister from a distance. Not long ago, they were reunified, and she is overjoyed to have everyone under one roof again. It’s loud, crowded, and full of laughter. It’s also a family stretching every dollar, in a home that needs repairs they cannot yet afford, and the adjustment has not always been easy for anyone. Her bedroom is the one place where Josie finds a little quiet, but the floor is slowly caving in, and she worries about it more than she lets on. Josie is responsible, funny, and fiercely devoted to her siblings, and she quickly pitches in with chores, homework help, and bedtime stories. She sketches floor plans for a “someday house” in the margins of her notebooks, a big, safe place where no one ever has to leave. Right now, she is working to hold her family together and believe this time will last.

After everything her family has been through, Josie’s greatest wish is for their home to feel safe and steady. The floor in her bedroom is caving in, and her family, who are working hard just to stay afloat, cannot yet afford the materials to fix it. A Home Depot gift card would let them buy lumber, flooring, and supplies to repair the damage, so Josie can sleep, study, and dream in a space that is secure. It would also take a major worry off the shoulders of a family that has already faced more than its share. For a girl who has fought so hard to keep everyone together, a safe home is the foundation for everything else.