Starfish Ministries

05/23/2026

Come see Heather at the Deville Farmers Market today! 🩵⭐️

05/22/2026

The message below is a real, heartfelt post, made by not only a foster parent in CENLA, but someone who has poured their all into Starfish and EVERY child that has walked through our doors.

Someone who has always lived by the phrase "It Matters To The One"

"This is the part of being a foster parent no one really talks about!
Tomorrow I will give you a big hug, kiss your cheek and tell you how much I love you before you get in the car and go home back to your mom!!

Oh how my heart aches for you in two different ways! One way is the ache that I'm so happy for you that you get to go home and be with your momma where you need to be! The other way it aches is because I'm having to let you go and say good bye!

As foster parents we never know how long a kiddo might be with us for a few days, to a few weeks, or even a year! What we do know is we take them into our homes, into our families, and into our hearts! We love them and protect them as our own!

Reunification is always the goal and I will always be in favor of that but that doesn't mean when it's time to happen we're not going to be sad and happy at the same time!"

05/21/2026

No matter where we go, the starfish always seems to find us.
After a 6-hour drive, our first stop this evening was the shore. Whitlee and I were standing at the edge of the water when another family walked over to show us the starfish they had caught.

And I couldn’t help but smile.

Out of all the shells and waves and endless sand, somehow the starfish still stood out.

Maybe it sounds silly, but moments like that always feel like little God winks to me—His gentle reminders that He is here, He is in control, and He’s taking care of us even in the middle of busy seasons, uncertainty, long roads, and all the things life carries.

And honestly… that’s kind of the heart behind Starfish Ministries too.

In a world full of overwhelming needs, we may not be able to change everything for everyone… but we can make a difference to the one right in front of us.
One child.
One family.
One hurting heart.
One moment of hope at a time.

And maybe that’s why God keeps putting starfish in our path — little reminders that what we do matters, even when it feels small.

“It Matters to the One.” 🌟

05/20/2026

Rapides Parish Summer meal sites!

Summer break shouldn't mean a break from good meals! 🍎

Free summer meals are available to all children 18 and under at open sites across Rapides Parish. Breakfast and lunch will be served daily — no registration or paperwork required!
Visit our website for a full list of locations and serving times.
www.rpsb.us/families/2026-summer-meal-sites

05/18/2026

Great opportunity for youth!

Cenla Community Action Committee, Inc. is excited to announce the upcoming Rapides Road to Work Driver Education Program!

This new initiative is being developed to help remove transportation barriers by providing financial assistance for driver’s education training to eligible youth ages 14–24 from low- and moderate-income households in Rapides Parish.

Having a driver’s license can open the door to:
✅ Employment opportunities
✅ Job training programs
✅ Educational opportunities
✅ Greater independence and mobility

Our goal is to help local youth gain the tools they need to succeed and build brighter futures.

Program details, eligibility requirements, locations, and enrollment information will be announced soon!

Stay connected for updates!

05/16/2026

Don’t forget!

Our sportsman’s lottery fundraiser is happening and you don’t want to miss!

Purchase here and message our page to choose your ticket number from 000-999.

Thank you for your support ⭐️

Pay at this link:
https://givebutter.com/fostering-hopeSMC

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day 💙

Today, we celebrate the mothers who show up every single day with love, sacrifice, strength, and grace, even when no one else sees it.

We celebrate:
• Foster moms
• Biological moms
• Adoptive moms
• Grandmothers
• Kinship caregivers
• Safe families
• Stepmoms
• Women longing to become mothers
• Mothers grieving children
• Mothers healing from hard seasons
• The women who mother through love alone

At Starfish Ministries, we have watched mothers rock babies through withdrawal, stay up all night comforting hurting children, advocate fiercely for reunification, open their homes in crisis, and continue loving even when the journey is messy and exhausting.

Motherhood is holy work.

To every woman carrying the weight of caring for others:
You matter.
Your love matters.
Your sacrifice matters.
And the quiet things you do behind closed doors are seen by God.

“Her children rise up and call her blessed…” — Proverbs 31:28

From all of us at Starfish Ministries —
Happy Mother’s Day
Because it matters to the one. ⭐️

05/04/2026

Our friends at Cenla CIT are hosting another community, youth crisis intervention training at Starfish Book Nook and Coffee Corner this month.

If you volunteer or work with youth in any capacity, this training is a necessity! Seats are limited and NO COST.

Register today and don’t miss this incredible opportunity to equip yourself with tools and knowledge to support youth.

Another community, youth crisis intervention training is being hosted at our location by Cenla CIT.

If you work or volunteer with youth, this is a must!

They are providing this training at no-cost as it it grant funded.

Don’t miss out! Register using this link or scan the QR code.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-youth-crisis-intervention-training-tickets-1988051981995?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile

05/04/2026

Interested in opening your home and hearts to children in need?

A foster parent orientation is being hosting by our friends at Fostering Community on May 21. Visit their page to learn more.

Right now, there is a huge need for more foster families across Louisiana, but especially here in the Alexandria region!

If you’ve ever thought about opening your home, this is a simple first step to learn more.

Join us for a Foster Parent Orientation on May 21st from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

You’ll hear what it looks like to become a foster parent, ask questions, and learn how you can be part of supporting children in our community.

Register here: https://FCC.as.me/orientation

05/01/2026

Big shoutout and thank you to Celise Reech Harper for donating a $50 gift card to Starfish Book Nook and Coffee Corner to help pay for foster parent's drinks. Y'all be sure to support our local libraries and if you ever see Celise, say hello and make a new friend. She's one of the best!

May is National Foster Care Month ⭐️

At Starfish Book Nook & Coffee Corner, we believe it matters to the one.
And this month, we want to pour back into the people who pour so much into others, foster parents and families.

☕ Buy one drink, get one free, all May long, at Starfish Book Nook and Coffee Corner!

This is our small way of saying thank you to the foster parents and families who show up day after day… especially when it’s hard.

Whether you need a quiet moment, a place to breathe, or just a good cup of coffee, we hope this can be a space where you can come, decompress, and be cared for too.

You matter. What you do matters. And we’re so grateful for you.