By Jeremy Walsh
As winter weather descended upon the borough and many families faced shrinking gift−buying budgets, Christmas came early for part of the population facing even greater challenges.
Dozens of families dealing with criminal convictions flocked to the Fortune Society center in Long Island City Saturday to celebrate the season and give donated toys to their children. The TimesLedger Newspapers was asked to withhold their names.
South Richmond Hill resident Michael B., 50, said he came to the Fortune Society after he lost his job and became homeless. Now he takes parenting and anger management classes and hopes someday to open up his own computer repair shop.
“The important thing is to be the dad I always wanted to be,” he said. “I have four children and two grandchildren, and at this point, being a part of their lives is very important.”
Michael said the party helped him get back in the holiday spirit.
“It gives me a chance to share the holiday season with my son,” he said. “At one time, I wasn’t really celebrating Christmas due to tragedies. This is the start of better things for me.”
Fortune Society staff member Sophia Strong said child custody issues often keep fathers like those in the program separated from their children.
“We have to do this because they just don’t have Christmas with the children,” she said.
“It shows that sometimes a hug is worth more than something monetary,” said family specialist David Williams. “That means a lot to me.”
The nonprofit program has been in operation since 1967 and is designed to help those with a criminal past improve their lives. It serves roughly 4,000 people throughout the five boroughs.
Training sessions include a class on parenting intended to increase the involvement of parents whose children may have been taken from them by the city Administration for Children’s Services.
The toys and some of the food were supplied by the Criminal Justice Club at Queensborough Community College.
“There are no words,” said Rose−Marie Aikas, criminal justice professor at QCC. “These children are the collateral products of our mass incarceration. At least this year they’re getting toys.”
The mood was somewhat brighter among the party guests.
Brooklyn resident Keith B., 22, said the program was a chance to make a better life for himself after a burglary arrest, though he claimed he was innocent.
“Sometimes you get charged with something you didn’t do,” he said. “That’s just God telling you to change your lifestyle. It’s a lesson learned. I got my son now. No more bull.”
Keith’s 7−month−old son, Jaiden, was born while Keith was incarcerated.
“I’m going back to school,” he said. “I got to play my father image now.”
For Angel P., 35, of the Bronx, the program offered a chance to escape the drug dealing life that got him arrested.
“I’m doing everything,” he said of the classes and sessions the program offers. “Whatever they give me, I take.”
Currently that means a GED program, anger management and soon training for his commercial driver’s license.
“I learned how to not follow leaders,” he said. “If I don’t run this program, I could just follow other people, get high and not care.”
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e−mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 154.
