Starfysh

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Our Vision: To see La Gonave, Haiti flourish, with healthy, prosperous, and whole communities. To make sure their water doesn’t make them sick? We are Starfysh.

We focus on Community Health, Education, and Sustainable Agriculture to uplift lives through Compassion, Dignity, and Hope—One Life at a Time. Starfysh is a grassroots movement of folks with the crazy notion that we could turn desperate poverty on its ear for a small island in Haiti that 100,000 of the poorest people on Earth call home—and restore dignity and hope to those who’ve lost both. Nothing less than a grand experiment in human compassion, Starfish asks, “What if a few people and organizations, in gutsy Christian response, came together in synergistic partnerships and collaboration to focus on this small island of precious people? To demonstrate to them the love of Christ by feeding them and clothing them? To restore in them the dignity that God originally created them to have? To make sure each family has a weather-tight home, a garden, and a dignified way to provide for themselves? To restore in them the ability to hope again?” We choose to rise to the occasion. And we invite you to join us.

10/10/2026

Great news, we’ve moved to a bigger room!

Our Benefit Dinner has outgrown its original home, so we’re heading to Watermark Country Club. Same date, same evening, same authentic Haitian meal catered by Chez Olga. Just more space, which means room for more of you.

Wednesday, November 4 at 6:00 PM (arrive at 5:30 PM)
Watermark Country Club, 1600 Galbraith Avenue SE, Grand Rapids
Free to attend, dinner included.

Already registered? Your seat carries over, nothing to do. If you haven’t yet, RSVP required by October 21 so we can give the kitchen a final count.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starfysh-benefit-dinner-stories-of-hope-from-la-gonave-haiti-tickets-1997159396517

09/22/2026

Come to the table. Wednesday, November 4. Free to attend, dinner included. RSVP at starfysh.org

09/17/2026

I do my best. I'm a Starfysh child."

Meet Natalie Matthieu, our Agriculture Director on La Gonave, Haiti.

She started as an intern in 2018 and was hired straight out of it, because everyone who worked with her was that impressed. Today she oversees two staff and thirteen agriculture workers at Life Garden, and her team distributes seedlings across the island every year.

Dr. Steve calls her a rockstar. She leads by example, gets her hands dirty, and works alongside the people she supervises.

This is what Starfysh is built on. Haitians leading the work on their own island.

Hear more stories like hers at the Starfysh Benefit Dinner, Wednesday, November 4 at Berkley Hills Church in Grand Rapids. An authentic Haitian meal catered by Chez Olga, stories from La Gonave, and our guest speaker Dr. Dan Irvine. Free to attend, dinner included, seating is limited.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starfysh-benefit-dinner-stories-of-hope-from-la-gonave-haiti-tickets-1997159396517

09/14/2026

Hi Everyone!

As you're all aware, we have been planning for our 2026 Starfysh Benefit Dinner. We've been pleased to see your reservations coming in! Due to last minute, unforeseen circumstances we have moved the date of our event to Wednesday, November 4th. If you've already registered, you'll receive an email with details.

Please come! We'll enjoy an amazing, authentic Haitian meal catered in by Chez Olga, a nearby authentic Haitian restaurant. We'll share fresh stories of real-life impact we're having on the island, and you do not want to miss hearing from our guest speaker, Dr. Dan Irvine, who will share powerful stories of how God works in people's lives when we meet them in their poverty.

Restoring Dignity. Building Hope. Transforming Lives.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Doors at 5:45 PM, dinner at 6:00 PM
Berkley Hills Church, 1670 Ball Avenue NE, Grand Rapids
Free to attend, dinner included, seating is limited.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starfysh-benefit-dinner-stories-of-hope-from-la-gonave-haiti-tickets-1997159396517

09/03/2026

Starfysh Benefit Dinner: Stories of Hope from La Gonave, Haiti

Join us for dinner as we celebrate what God is doing through Starfysh on the island of La Gonave, Haiti. Our special guest for the evening is Dr. Dan Irvine who will be sharing powerful stories of faith, leadership, and God's work on the island.

Restoring Dignity. Building Hope. Transforming Lives.

Dan Irvine, PhD is an ordained minister with 50 years ministry experience, a significant time of which was spent on the island of La Gonave.

Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 PM
Berkley Hills Church, Grand Rapids
Free to attend, dinner included, seating is limited.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starfysh-benefit-dinner-stories-of-hope-from-la-gonave-haiti-tickets-1997159396517

08/06/2026

Join us for a complimentary dinner and program; a special evening celebrating what God is doing through StarFysh and the people who make this mission possible.

08/01/2026

Yves Joseph was promoted to his heavenly reward on Friday, July 31st, 2026. He was 69. Yves left behind his wife of 47 years, Antonine, and four children: Charlene, Sebastien, Welhcha, and Jordy. He loved his family and cherished most his role as husband and father and would talk about his family often. He was born in Anse-a-Galets, Haiti where he lived his entire life. Following graduation from Wesleyan College, Yves taught for a number of years at the Wesleyan Elementary School, where he was called “Maitre Yves” or “Met Yves” (Master Yves) a name and title that stuck with him for the rest of his life. Met Yves then joined the staff at La Gonave Wesleyan Hospital where, for the next 25 years, he worked in the business office and patient registration. For a season he was also in charge of staff devotions. To many, Yves was known as “Pastor Yves”, as he would often fill pulpits in various churches across town. More recently, Yves coordinated island-wide community health education efforts through CHE (Community Health Evangelism) and served as Starfysh’s Employee Manager and Payroll Supervisor.

Yves was widely respected. He was measured, low-key, and mature, He was discerning and wise. He was one of those people who, when he spoke, people listened. He was worth listening to! Most of all, Yves loved God, and wanted everyone around him to know Him too.

We already miss you, Yves. Enjoy Heaven. We’ll see you again someday.

07/31/2026

It is with broken hearts we must let everyone know that our dear friend, Met Yves, passed away today after brief illness. Not many details other than we know he is enjoying Heaven today. Our loss is his gain.
We'll share a tribute here on Facebook as soon as we can pull it together. In the meantime, please join us in praying for his family and all who knew and loved him.

Address

6757 Cascade Road SE #207
Grand Rapids, MI
49546

Website

http://www.starfysh.org/

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