More than a hundred families gathered at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad, California, on June 13 for an early Father's Day celebration. After enduring security checks and hours of bus travel, their spirits lifted when incarcerated loved ones entered the visiting room. Tears, embraces, and joyful reunions followed as children ran to their fathers and mothers waited for their turn.
Get on the Bus Program Eases Financial and Emotional Strain
The event was organized by the Get on the Bus program, run by the Center for Restorative Justice Works (CRJW). It provided free transportation and meals, aiming to benefit the mental health of children with incarcerated parents and strengthen familial bonds. Liz Ríos, executive director of CRJW, emphasized the program's goal: 'Their parent is going to go home one day, and we want that bond to remain, so we're working to help the children with what occurred in the past, and those feelings of abandonment and shame, but also to help them in their own future and have a strong family unit.'
Families lined up for a free breakfast of packaged snacks, bananas, coffee, juice, and donated bagels and donuts. Normally, they would have to rely on expensive vending machine food, with sodas costing about $3 and frozen burritos or cheeseburgers up to $10. Alisa Romero, who brought her daughter and grandson to visit her husband Richard, noted she would typically spend over $100 per visit. 'The vending machines are expensive, but we don't have to pay for it [during the event], so it kind of makes it special that we're not so stressed about money coming back into the visit,' she said.
Celebrating Milestones and Creating Memories
For the Vallis family, the event was doubly special: the oldest son celebrated his high school graduation with stepdad Derrick Ware, who had only seen 30-second videos of the ceremony. They took graduation pictures together and celebrated in person. Fathers handed out teddy bears to their children, providing a tangible reminder of the day. Children lit up with excitement as they received their bears.
One woman sang Happy Birthday to her husband on his actual birthday for the first time in years since his incarceration. Overcome with emotion, he removed his hat and held it over his heart. The six-hour visit felt like 20 minutes, and families were reluctant to say goodbye. Children cried as they exited through one door while fathers left through another.
Comfort on the Ride Home
On the bus back to Los Angeles, children fell asleep cuddling their teddy bears. A teen girl used her bear as a pillow against the window, and a toddler with a pacifier clung to hers while dozing. 'She didn't let go the whole way home,' observed a program volunteer. The bears served as a comfort and a reminder of the bond with their fathers.
