Two Fathers Making Strides

Father's Day is on Sunday, June 19, and we're excited to share about two fathers from the Touch A Heart team—Nick and Leonard. If you visit us at Kalihi Union Church on Wednesdays, you can't miss Nick with his head full of curls, big smile, and six-foot height. He graduated from our foodservice internship program in March, and although he has another job, he continues to help us every week. Nick loves being a father to his two-year-old daughter Rebel and is maximizing his time with her before his sentencing. Together, they enjoy playing in the ball pit at Kids City, splashing in the pool, and mini golfing. Rebel also has a speech delay and Nick has been busy getting support for her. Touch A Heart has shown Nick the importance of giving back to the community. "I should've given more when I had the money. Now I give back more, even though I have less," he said. Nick feels compelled to feed the homeless near his apartment every week. He's taken Rebel with him once and plans to take her again when she's older. Leonard recently rejoined Touch A Heart after his release and has since reunited with his 13-year-old son Kainalu. "I want to be there for him. I missed out on half his life, but now I want to be involved," he said. "Next month, I'm going to take him shopping for school clothes and supplies—just the two of us." Slowly but surely, Leonard and Kainalu are getting to know each other through visits and video calls. Leonard hopes to instill in his son the value and importance of family and show his unconditional love and support. While reconnecting has been challenging, Leonard is excited to build that relationship. His next steps are to save money so that he can get his own place. We're so proud of Nick, Leonard, and all of our graduates who continue to make great strides in life—building and strengthening bonds with their children and families one step at a time—and we're grateful to have you as part of the Touch A Heart community that supports them along this journey.