Father Matters

Asking for food support should never be a source of shame.

September 29 is Hunger Action Day, a reminder that food insecurity affects individuals and families in every kind of community. Father Matters operates a food pantry to help connect local families and individuals with practical food support. Availability can change, so calling ahead is the best way to learn what is currently available.

If your household needs support, or if you know someone who may benefit, visit the Food Pantry page or call Father Matters at 602-774-3298.

https://fathermatters.org/food-pantry/

One meal without phones can make room for a conversation your family has been missing.

Family Day is a reminder that connection can begin with something simple. Put the devices away for one meal. Ask each person to name one good part of the day, one difficult part, and one thing they need help with this week. Fathers can help set the tone by listening first and resisting the urge to fix every answer immediately.

Try one distraction-free meal tonight. Keep it simple, keep everyone included, and see what you learn about each other.

https://fathermatters.org/programs/family-education-support/

Father Matters — Show Up Stronger for Your Family Father Matters supports, encourages, and equips fathers and families through programs, workshops, community resources, food pantry support, workforce assistance, and family education.

Returning home after incarceration involves more than finding a place to stay.

People may be rebuilding family relationships while also looking for work, learning new routines, handling court or custody concerns, and reconnecting with their community. Reliable guidance and one-on-one mentorship can help someone identify the next practical step without pretending that the road is simple.

Father Matters offers reentry mentoring and connections to education, employment preparation, family support, and community resources. If you or someone you know is preparing to return home, learn about the program and ask what support is currently available.

https://fathermatters.org/programs/father-matters-reentry-mentoring-project/

Good conversations can give families a better place to begin.

Join Vance Simms for The Father Matters Show tonight from 9:00 to 10:00 PM on FaithTalk 1360 AM KPXQ. Each week, the show makes room for conversations about fathers, families, responsibility, relationships, resources, and the work of building healthier communities.

The right conversation can help a parent hear a new idea, recognize a useful resource, or approach an old challenge differently.

Listen tonight and send the show to someone who cares about helping families move forward.

https://fathermatters.org/the-father-matters-show-with-vance-simms/

Family stories help children understand the people, places, and values that shaped them.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the Hispanic and Latino fathers, grandfathers, mentors, and caregivers who strengthen Phoenix families every day. Passing down a family story, recipe, phrase, song, photograph, or hard-earned lesson gives children something meaningful to carry forward.

Ask an older family member to share one story about where your family comes from. Record it, write it down, or tell it again at the next family gathering.

Learn more about Father Matters and its commitment to stronger Phoenix families.

https://fathermatters.org/about-father-matters/

Looking for work can feel overwhelming when your family is counting on you.

September is Workforce Development Month, a useful reminder that the next step does not have to happen alone. Father Matters offers workforce assistance with job searches, applications, resumes, interviews, career development, education opportunities, technology access, and one-on-one guidance for men and women.

Choose one practical step today. Update one section of your resume, identify one job to apply for, or ask for help preparing for an interview. Contact Father Matters to learn what support is currently available.

https://fathermatters.org/workforce-assistance/

Fatherhood does not end when children become adults.

Grandfathers and older fathers can continue strengthening the family by listening, sharing lessons, and supporting the next generation without trying to control every decision. Sometimes the most useful conversation starts with a simple question: What do you wish you had understood earlier about being a father?

Invite an older father or grandfather to share one lesson this week. Give him time to tell the full story, including the mistakes that helped shape what he knows now.

https://fathermatters.org/programs/family-education-support/

Confusion grows quickly when family plans stay only in someone's head.

Clear co-parenting plans can reduce unnecessary stress and help keep children out of adult disagreements. Write down the next seven days. Confirm school needs, transportation, appointments, activities, and any shared responsibilities. Keep the message brief, respectful, and focused on what the child needs.

Written details also give both adults something clear to review when plans change.

You do not have to solve every disagreement today. Start by confirming one responsibility before the week becomes busy.

https://fathermatters.org/healthy-co-parenting/

You do not have to figure out fatherhood alone.

Asking an experienced father for advice is not weakness. It shows that you care enough to keep learning. A trusted father or mentor can listen without judging, share what worked and what did not, and help you think through a difficult moment before it becomes a bigger problem.

Choose one father, grandfather, coach, or mentor you trust. Ask him one honest parenting question this week, then make room to hear the answer.

https://fathermatters.org/support-group/

Families grow stronger when every generation has a way to contribute.

Fathers can help children and grandparents stay connected by creating simple opportunities to share time, stories, and responsibilities. Invite a grandparent to help prepare a meal, teach a skill, tell a family story, or check in during the week. These ordinary moments help children understand where they come from and remind older family members that their presence still matters.

Ask each person in your family to choose one way they can help or connect this week.

https://fathermatters.org/programs/family-education-support/