Father’s Day: Gift Ideas From Dads Who Have Gone From Jails to Jobs
One year ago, Toby was sitting at MDC Metropolitan Detention Center thinking he was in hell. He didn’t think in a year from now he would be providing for his family by holding down a steady job and learning meaningful job skills through the Fathers Building Futures (FBF) program, while contributing to a better life in the community.
He was looking at spending what could be the rest of his life locked up and away from his family. His wife and four kids were home, burdened with bills and missing their dad. Children were anxious and stress levels continued to grow. Not a day went by that he didn’t think of his family and did whatever he could to get that back.
FBF has helped men like Toby through a job training initiative with PB&J Family Services. The group has built viable lines of business in car detailing, mobile power washing and woodworking. Toby is 1 of 150 fathers who are formerly incarcerated or on probation/parole. The PB&J program reaches out to them while in jail, prison, probation, or on parole to prepare them for successful reentry and reunification with their family and steady employment.
“Once I started with PB&J, I started to look at things in a different way when it came to my kids. I started learning about how kids grow, what you’re supposed to do, what they’re supposed to do and what they should know and see. When I was in Jail, I thought was going to prison for the rest of my life…I was gone. When I first met PB&J, I didn’t think I was ever going to see my kids again. I wanted to see my kids. I wanted to do whatever it took to see my kids. Now I get to be there for my kids. When I’m not at work, I’m with my family and we do everything together. They play sports and are in computer clubs, we watch movies and go out to eat. It’s the best.”
Need gift ideas for Father’s Day?
Here are three ways to honor the fathers in your lives while promoting family stability for fathers through Fathers Building Futures.
- Purchase a gift certificate for Auto Detail or custom wood cutting boards through www.fathersbuildingfutures.com or shop in person at 4301 4th Street NW. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4p.m.
- Pitch in together to sponsor a full day of Auto Detail at your office.
- Come out to one of our three events over Father’s Day weekend.