Lily

Lily grew up moving between family members' homes — sometimes a week, sometimes a few months. Through all of it, she sang. Cartoon theme songs, lullabies she barely remembered, songs she made up herself in the back seat of unfamiliar cars.

When the relative she was staying with could no longer safely care for her, Lily entered the foster system. Her placement with a loving foster family was stable from day one — and so began the work of rebuilding her sense of safety.

Lily is cautious around new people, but once she trusts you, she will show you every drawing in her notebook and explain each one. She helps her foster sister with homework. She knows every lyric to Encanto.

She wants to learn to swim. She wants to invite a friend over — a real one, from school — for the first time. She wants to sing in the school talent show in May.

Trauma-informed therapy is helping Lily feel safe. Winter clothes and school supplies give her the quiet dignity of showing up like every other kid. Your donation keeps both of those things going.