Gary Johnson Is in Good Hands Now
When Gary came to The Father Center of New Jersey (TFCNJ) for support, he had been homeless for a while and needed someone to guide him. From the moment he arrived, he felt safe and at peace.
During his initial intake, Gary shared a few stories about his dad and his mother. He explained that he lost his parents and felt lost after that. Right away, Gary’s great personality was apparent to those meeting with him, as well as his desire to help others in need.
He went to the Dress2Impress® closet to get a few clothes for a job search. His self-esteem seemed to change almost instantly. He was very excited as he began trying on clothes. We noticed that he had a wallet that could barely hold his ID and other documents. So we asked if he needed a wallet since we had a few available. “Gary began to cry and told me the story that the wallet that he had was his father’s wallet,” recalls Yanira Medina, WIB Program Manager. “He had the wallet since his father passed, and he felt like his dad was with him as long as he had his wallet on him. We told him he didn’t have to get rid of his dad’s wallet, but needed a new wallet so he wouldn’t lose his documents.”
We gave him a Ziploc bag for his father’s wallet, and he began to cry again. “You know what?” he asked. “It is time for me to start a new beginning. My father will always be by my side even if I don’t have his wallet with me. The Father Center gave me the hope that I needed to move on with my life and make a positive change.” He threw the wallet in the garbage can and said, “Bye Dad, I am in good hands now, and I am going to make you proud.”
Gary left The Father Center of New Jersey that day feeling like a new person. He later signed up for SORA certification. He is so excited about his future now, and has been able to find housing. With the support of The Father Center of New Jersey, Gary knows that he has a lot of potential and he has someone who can help him achieve his goals in life.
