She is so worth it.
13-year-old Haley is safe in kinship care with her grandma. While there is no shortage of love in the home, money is tight, and Haley was sleeping on a nearly 40-year-old mattress. Her advocate made a wish for a new bed, and it was granted on our site almost immediately. Haley shared this photo to let you know how happy she was to have her very own brand-new bed.
Sometimes we are asked why we don't fill wishes with used items, and while we don't fault any other org for doing this, it just isn't how we do things. We believe that there is a lot of dignity in being able to pick out exactly what you want and to know it has only been yours. And, for many of our kids, these wishes represent the first time in their lives that they have ever had that option.
Haley's advocate was also in foster care and she wanted us to share this: "When I was 16, I left foster care and I've been on my own since. I never had anything new or mine. I never felt like I was worth anything. I felt like it was selfish of me to want something new, and I would’ve never thought to ask. Back then I would ride my bike past a mattress that was sitting in someone’s side yard in the rain. One day I knocked on the door and asked if I could have it. I brought that dirty mattress into my apartment, let it dry out and slept on it. Looking back, I wish that person would’ve told me that I was worth more than that. I realized it was gross but I didn’t know I deserved better. I think it’s why I’m so passionate about getting new beds for kids. They shouldn't grow up thinking that they deserve to sleep on stained, disgusting mattresses or beds that are unsafe or old. I think it’s really important for a child who has already lost a lot and is struggling with grief and trauma. A new bed surrounds them with comfort and reminds them they are worth it."
They are all worth it.
Danielle and The OSW Team
