Richard Tirado, 60, gets treated to a Father’s Day pedicure that he finds both relaxing and ticklish at SP Nail Spa in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. Operation Warm Wishes sponsored the event for homeless dads like Tirado, a father of two who has been living in his car for nine months. “I feel like a king. I feel like a rich guy,” he joked as Cindy Nguyen worked on his feet.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
On most weekends, Richard Tirado wakes up before sunrise and looks for cans and bottles to recycle.
Tirado, 60, is homeless in Tustin and has been living in his Chevy Suburban with his wife for nine months, using the recycling money — sometimes as much as $28 per day — to pay for gas and food.
But on Saturday, June 17, Tirado’s scavenging routine was interrupted with something new: a free manicure, pedicure and breakfast.
TyRon Jackson helps Richard Tirado slip into a new pair of socks after Tirado’s Father’s Day pedicure at SP Nail Spa in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. Jackson, founder of Operation Warm Wishes, sponsored the spa and breakfast event for homeless fathers.”Whether you have 500 people or five people, they all matter,” he said. Less than a dozen were at the event.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Richard Tirado, left, embraces TyRon Jackson of Operation Warm Wishes after a Father’s Day spa and breakfast for homeless men in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. Jackson, who was also once homeless said, “We all fall down when we’re homeless. I want to encourage guys to get back up.”(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Robert Miner’s children Robert, 9, from left, Jesus, 6, and Malachia, 10, join him for a Father’s Day Spa and breakfast at SP Nail Spa in Tustin Saturday, June 17, 2017. The event for homeless dads was sponsored by Operation Warm Wishes. “This has been my best day out of the whole year and I’ve had some very good days,” he said.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Malachia Miner, 10, is all smiles as her dad Robert gets treated to a Father’s Day spa and breakfast for homeless men in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. She says the only thing better would be, “If they painted his nails indigo.”(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Robert Miner, 9, left, and his brother Jesus, 6, have fun chasing bubbles from a bubble machine during the Operation Warm Wishes Father’s Day Spa and Breakfast for homeless men in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Richard Tirado, 60, gets treated to a Father’s Day pedicure that he finds both relaxing and ticklish at SP Nail Spa in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. Operation Warm Wishes sponsored the event for homeless dads like Tirado, a father of two who has been living in his car for nine months. “I feel like a king. I feel like a rich guy,” he joked as Cindy Nguyen worked on his feet.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Operation Warm Wishes founder TyRon Jackson checks out the manicured hands of Richard Tirado during the Father’s Day spa day and breakfast for homeless dads in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Homeless dads are treated to a relaxing Fathers day spa and breakfast at SP Nail Spa in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. The event was sponsored by Operation Warm Wishes.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Homeless dads are treated to a relaxing Father’s day spa and warm breakfast at SP Nail Spa in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. The event was sponsored by Operation Warm Wishes.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Matthew Dawson is so relaxed while getting a pedicure that he dozes off at the SP Nail Spa in Tustin on Saturday, June 17, 2017. The Father’s Day event for homeless dads, sponsored by Operation Warm Wishes, also included a breakfast. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tirado, a father of two, said he had never received a manicure before Saturday. He joined a handful of other homeless fathers or dads in need at SP Nail Spa in Tustin.
“This is heaven,” Tirado told TyRon Jackson, whose nonprofit Operation Warm Wishes hosted the “Pampering Papa” event.
As Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Chesney tunes played in the background, Tirado smiled and laughed as the employees washed his feet, cut his toenails and turned on the vibrating massage chair.
“My wife — she’s not going to recognize me,” Tirado told one of the employees.
Next to Tirado sat a half-dozen other men, most of whom had never received a manicure or pedicure.
With their pant legs rolled up, the men sat back, relaxed and ate a sampling of sausage, croissants and bananas. One man even started falling asleep.
Tirado said he’s grateful for Jackson’s help in providing food and clothes over the past few months.
“He’s a really, really nice guy,” Tirado said.
Since 2013, Jackson has used the Tustin-based Operation Warm Wishes to give food and clothing to individuals and families throughout Orange County.
For Jackson, Sunday marks the first year without his estranged father, who died last year.
“I had hope that one day my dad and I would have a great relationship, but that never happened,” Jackson said.
Jackson held the first “Pampering Papa” event, which cost the nonprofit about $500, to help dads in need.
“These are my dads today,” he said. “I want to take that frustration and turn it into love and hope and inspiration and give these dads that.”
Among the first to arrive at the spa were Robert Miner, 60, and his three children.
As a single parent, Miner said he’s been unable to afford to treat himself to a spa. He said his toes were hurting before he got the pedicure.
“That’s the main thing I was really scared about,” he said. “‘Is it going to be painful?'”
After the spa, Tirado met his wife in the parking lot at their Suburban, which was loaded with their belongings and a bag of recyclables.
On Father’s Day, it will be like any other weekend day for Tirado. He will be out looking for more cans and bottles, and hoping to bring in enough money for gas and food.
