Daddy's Here Gives Fathers A Chance To Support Each Other

SACRAMENTO (CBS 13) – Fathers in North Sacramento spend the holiday season looking to their fellow fathers for support.

At the Center for Fathers and Families, more than 100 fathers take place in a program called "Daddy's Here."

"Gives me a dose of strength and direction," said father Royal Edwards.

The relationship between fathers and their children hasn't always been cherished. So the dads in the program work every day to break away from the negative stereotypes.

"Here we are nine years later, still learning how to be a father to a daughter," Edwards said.

It's support that many fathers go without but in this program they don't have to. Every Thursday, dozens of dads gather for

Daddy's Here, a free program providing legal advice, parenting support, friendship, and a safe place to talk. Many of the men are single fathers, struggling to figure out how to be better parents.

"This is their click, their fraternity," said Terry Moore, Director of Adult Services at the Center. "They pow wow, they unify and they align with one another. Be around other men who are like minded who are just trying to be the best dads they can be."

Terry Moore started the group 12 years ago to provide support that some fathers had trouble finding anywhere else.

"I wanted a place where they could come and be open and share with one another and bond together," he said.

But behind the camaraderie is a bond fueled by tragedy.

"He lost custody, and when he found out, unfortunately, he shot his daughter in the head and then he shot himself in the head," Moore said.

It was an ending for one of his fathers that Moore desperately wants to avoid in the future.

"Never again are we gonna let a dad fall by the wayside," Moore said.

The calendar only marks it once a year, but Father's Day is every day for the Daddies that come here.

On Thursday, the fathers wrapped Christmas gifts and shared stories about what they've been going through. Each father was able to take home two toys free of charge, thanks to donations from the community.