Family Cornerstones, Inc. - Starfish

06/16/2026

When Donations Become Disposal…

Yesterday, we were excited to receive what we were told would be a generous donation of freeze-dried food products that could help support families in our program.

As a nonprofit serving families in our community, we are always grateful for donations that allow us to meet real needs and we were hopeful this would be another opportunity to put valuable resources directly into the hands of those we serve.

Instead, what arrived were cases of freeze-dried food products manufactured in 1979 and 1980 — over 40 years old and well beyond safe consumption standards.

We want to share an important reminder because this is something nonprofits experience far too often:

Nonprofits are not a dumping ground for items that are no longer usable.

When organizations like ours receive donations that cannot safely be distributed, we are left with the burden of sorting, handling, and disposing of items we simply cannot use — time and resources that take away from serving families who truly need support.

Before donating, we ask our community to remember:

❤️ Ask if items are needed...they usually are.
❤️ Ensure donations are safe and usable
❤️ Give with dignity, remembering the people receiving these items deserve quality too

And when it comes to food donations, ask yourself one simple question:

Would I feel comfortable feeding this to my own family?

If the answer is no, please reconsider before passing it along to families in need.

Thoughtful generosity changes lives. But giving should always come from a place of helping, not simply finding somewhere to send what should have been discarded long ago.

We know our community cares deeply, and we share this not from frustration alone, but as an important reminder that thoughtful giving makes all the difference.

05/26/2026

Sensory bins are so much more than just fun and messy play — they’re powerful learning tools for little minds! 💛

Exploring different textures, scooping, pouring, sorting, and digging helps children build:
✨ Fine motor skills
✨ Hand-eye coordination
✨ Problem-solving skills
✨ Language development
✨ Creativity & imagination
✨ Focus and independent play

Sensory play can also be calming and comforting for children while encouraging curiosity and exploration through hands-on learning.

The best part? You don’t need expensive supplies to create meaningful sensory experiences! Everyday items and budget-friendly finds can make the perfect sensory bin fillers. 🙌

Check out these fun Dollar Store sensory bin ideas below for easy inspiration! 👇

Sensory bins don't have to be fancy or expensive—keep this list on hand the next time you head over to the dollar store!

05/22/2026

💕🍼 What an incredible evening at our Starfish Community Baby Shower! 🍼💕

We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the love and support shown to the 9 amazing moms we honored this week. Because of the generosity of our community, these families were showered with baby essentials, encouragement, and reminders that they are not alone. 💗

From adorable gifts and sweet moments to so many smiling faces, this event was truly special. We celebrated:
🎀 6 baby girls
💙 2 baby boys
🎁 1 sweet surprise

Thank you to everyone who donated, shared our posts, purchased from the wish list, gave financially, attended the shower, or helped make the evening possible. Every contribution helped create a meaningful and memorable experience for these moms-to-be.

It takes a community to support families — and this community showed up beautifully. 💕

05/20/2026

Our Starfish Community Baby Shower is almost here!

On May 21st, we’ll be celebrating 9 incredible moms-to-be as they prepare to welcome their little ones into the world — and there’s still time for our community to help make this event extra special! 💕

We are currently collecting baby essentials and gifts for these families, and every donation makes a difference. Whether you choose to shop for a specific item or give financially, your support helps ensure these moms feel loved, encouraged, and prepared.

🎁 Amazon Wish List:

https://a.co/0e5PmtZL

💗 Monetary Donations:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/ba26da37-1e9a-4020-84ab-c57718663db1

You can also bring wrapped gifts directly to the baby shower!
This community continues to show up in such meaningful ways for local families, and we are so thankful for every share, donation, and act of kindness. Let’s come together to shower these moms and babies with love!

05/12/2026

Thank you!