US teenager rents new family to celebrate her birthday

  • Published
NatalieImage source, 7News

A US teenager has advertised for - and found - a family to spend her birthday with.

Natalie Carson, 19, is a student in Colorado who grew up in foster care.

She posted an advert on Craigslist at the end of May saying she'd never had a happy birthday and wanted to rent a family for the next one.

Her search drew attention across the States and she told 7News in Denver that after thousands of responses, she's now found a family.

In the online advert, Natalie said she'd been taken from abusive parents as a child and has now "aged out" of foster care.

She said: "I'm looking to rent a family that I can spend time with on my birthday in a few weeks.

"I'm not a weirdo or anything, I was just inspired by another girl that rented a family from Craigslist in California.

"I just want one day that I can feel important and special, and like I matter - even if I really don't."

She said she wasn't looking for monetary support and could pay "$8 an hour".

She told 7News, external that she didn't think anyone would answer her ad, but she says she's been flooded with thousands of emails and had loads of offers.

She told them she's decided on a Colorado family to help her celebrate but has removed her advert from the site and now wants privacy.

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