September Newsletter 2012

They can’t do this alone!

Supporting these young dads is an ongoing endeavor. As we reach out to these dads, (through one-on-one mentoring, and our community focused events such as our Dad and tot morning breakfast and our drop in hockey nights), we are finding out that these guys need more support beyond these events! Stepping Up is in hot pursuit of a credited counselors that can volunteer some of their time to meet with these young dads and help them navigate through some of their life struggles. Please consider helping? If you can help, contact Dave @ davemorgan@youthunlimited.com for more info.


Did You Know?

Kids that grow up in fatherless homes are five times more likely to commit suicide. And twenty times more likely to have mental illness, thirty two times more likely to run away from home. These statistics are staggering and they are crippling our communities today. How do we stop this? How do we make a change? By keeping young dads connected with their children - it’s that simple! To break this cycle of fatherlessness we need financial resources and valuable volunteers. Why? Well, meet Mike, a young dad who has an anger problem and spends most of his days frustrated. He finds it hard at times to look after his child in a way a dad should. He tries to cope by using drugs and alcohol. He has zero life skills to make better choices for him and his young family. He needs a better way! Mike has two choices; he either gets help with his anger and addiction issue or stays living in dysfunction. Most young fathers choose dysfunction. Why? Because it’s easy! Most dads that I work with are like Mike. The need for Stepping Up is crucial in our community - Helping these young fathers stay connected to their young families, breaking the cycle of fatherlessness today! Join us in changing lives - Dave

DAVE and SHAINA'S Update!
NHL hockey this year, NOT! But there is hockey at the Morgan’s house! Joah started his hockey season and so the early morning practices and weekend games begin. Shaina is enjoying being pregnant, but her energy level is down considerably due to having morning sickness all day long! She is such a trooper she never really complains and rarely has those late night pregnant cravings! She is faithfully working hard looking after a few kids to make extra money, please pray that she has strength for her day to day! Liam is growing and is talking so well, he is a joy. I have been very busy,but happy to lend a hand where it’s needed.

A school in Surrey was interested in the fatherless crisis and asked these questions to me!  Please help in the cause"Stop the cycle of fatherless generations"

What are your biggest needs? 

Male mentors and role models, Volunteers, and monthly financial donations.

When did you start? 

This is a grass roots outreach and is really one of a kind in Surrey, and there are virtually no other outreaches like this in the lower mainland. We are pioneering new ground.  We have been growing strong for two years now.

How did you come up with this idea?  

Out of my own personal struggles with a poor father figure in my life and being a single dad for many years.  Through my life's experience I began to imagine one day bringing help to young fathers in Surrey! Alot of these young dads have to journey alone in being a father and being fatherless themselves. In most cases its to much for them to handle so they leave their young children with no better options.  Creating another cycle of fatherlessness, these cycles are sometimes 2 or 3 generations long!  This is a silent epidemic that is sweeping our communities.  So I decided to do something about this issue!  And that's how I created this outreach, to help our community grow stronger with healthy father figures being brought back to our communities today! 

How did you know how father's act without having a father?

I have a father figure/mentor in my life today that shows me how a father should be and act. And it's through this relationship with this mentor/father figure I can help these young dads I work with today.

What way do you make young fathers the best dad they can be?

 By one on one mentorship, Giving them life skills, vocational coaching, group events like a dad and tots breakfast and floor hockey night. Also One day Stepping Up young fathers would like to start a Social Enterprise that gives these young dads work and emotional healing.

Thanks for your interest in what I do working with the fatherless.  Hope these answers help, please keep me informed with what you are doing!  The more voices we have out there helping the fatherless is a really good thing!  If I can help in any other way, please let me know! "Stop the cycle of fatherless generations"

Stepping Up "young fathers" 

3rd Dad and Tot Breakfast!

COME OUT to our THIRD dad and tots breakfast, Dads give the mom in your life a well deserved break! Come with your tot (child) to our Saturday Morning Breakfast and enjoy good food and fun. 

This FREE event is taking place at Peoples Church, Saturday, OCTOBER 27th, 10am-12pm in Surrey. We will have a play station set up for the kids, and Eggs,Toast and Lots of bacon, O.J and coffee and waffles for the kids!! So bring your appetites guys its going to be awesome! 

RSVP to this event ASAP so we know how much food to buy! We don't want anyone going away hungry!! We had a great turn out last time at our SECOND dad and tots breakfast. So don't miss this months breaky, See you there! 

AND REMEMBER GIVE MOM A BREAK! RSVP me davemorgan@youthunlimited.com