SAVANNAH, Ga. () — A Savannah group is building bonds of friendship through fatherhood.

Searching the web, Mike Ramsay came across Lonestar Dads, a Texas community of men united by fatherhood.

Inspired by the group’s mission, Ramsay founded the Georgia Dad Tribe of Savannah, a local chapter of Lonestar Dads. In just three months, the group has grown reaching over 1000 members, covering five counties: Chatham, Bulloch, Bryan, Effingham and Liberty.

The group offers more than just a social outlet—it provides fathers a much-needed space to connect, open up and support each other through the ups and downs of parenting.

“Women are phenomenal at building community,” Mike says. “Men, we don’t do that too much. It’s a little harder to try and get around that.”

He explains that when men become fathers, their social lives often fade into the background.

“When you have kids, you kind of lose that socialization because now your life becomes working, supporting your family and helping raise your children.”

That’s where Georgia Dad Tribe of Savannah steps in offering a Facebook group where dads can join to talk, hang out and participate in activities together—from cookouts to community fires. Everyday recruiting more fathers.

One of the most important parts of Dad Tribe, Mike says, is the opportunity for “raw conversations.” These often start over a cup of coffee or under a Facebook post, giving men a space to talk openly about fatherhood, self-esteem and friendship—topics not always easy to bring up.

“Now people are really becoming more comfortable where those conversations are starting to come up,” he says. “People don’t really think that guys have these conversations and that they exist.”

But through the group, they do.

“One of the greatest things we all gain from this is not just a friend or an acquaintance,” Mike says. “We gain a sense of community and family where we can reach out if we need something and we know other people are gonna show up and we know people are gonna be there.”

Despite being the founder of the Georgia chapter, Mike is quick to emphasize that this is not about him.

“None of this is about me,” he says. “This is about the men who are fathers in the community. They are the ones who make it what it is, who make it special… they are the ones who make it worth.”

Dad Tribe of Savannah welcomes all fathers—adoptive, biological, stepfathers and grandfathers. For Mike, it’s about reaching as many families as possible and making sure no dad feels left out.

Beyond offering support to each other, the group is also active in the community. In May, Dad Tribe donated $300 to Brett J. Morris Avenger Foundation as part of a campaign where Mike pledged one dollar per every new member.

But for Mike, the most rewarding stories are the personal ones. Like the father who, after joining Dad Tribe, rediscovered his passion for roller hockey after 25 years.

That is what the Georgia Dad Tribe of Savannah is about, Mike says. Helping fathers reconnect with themselves and one another.

“That’s what we’re trying to build. We wanna make sure that dads can know that we’re here.”

You can find Dad Tribe’s official Facebook group here.