Foster teen places ad on Craigslist wanting to “rent” a family for her birthday… and gets a big response

Natalie Carson, a 19-year-old woman living in Westminster, Colorado, recently took to Craigslist to give herself the birthday she’s never had. Carson was put into foster care as a baby, but aged out of the system without being adopted at age 18. As a result, she hasn’t had a birthday she could look back on fondly, and doesn’t have a family to celebrate her upcoming birthday with. But all that is about to change, as her Craigslist ad asking for a family to “rent” has received an amazing response!

Carson posted the ad after hearing about another young woman who found a family to spend the holiday with via Craigslist, and explained in the ad that, “I just want one day that I can feel important and special…I have never had a good birthday so I figure why not this birthday.”

In truth, Carson has a lot of reasons to feel special. Having returned to Colorado from Georgia after years in foster care, she’s putting herself through college and studying computer science. She’s done it all on her own, along with support from Denver shelter Urban Peak. And that is something to be very, very proud of.

Clearly Craigslist readers felt the same way, as Carson has been overwhelmed by the support she’s received through the ad! Not only has she been in communication with, “one family in particular,” as she told The Denver Channel, but she’s also working with other respondents to support children in foster care and the organizations that help them.

Not only is it so heartwarming to learn that Carson is getting the birthday she always wanted, but it’s also fantastic that she’s channeling the attention and support she’s received to help those who also need it. It’s a selfless act that will make a huge difference to the lives of foster children in need!

So what does Carson have planned for her birthday? As she told The Denver Channel, she’s looking for something simple: “I felt like having one day where it’s OK — this is about me and it’s my birthday. I don’t have this big elaborate plan or anything, I just wanted it to be good.”

We hope your birthday is perfect, Natalie! You deserve it!

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