By Jeanni Ritchie
If you take the ministry out, you’ve still got an incredible bookstore, coffee cafe, and playground built for inclusivity.
But if you exclude the ministry component, you’ve still miss the heart and soul of what Starfish Book Nook and Jake’s Place is all about!
With a heart for foster care, Jessica Lachney founded Starfish Ministries to provide services for a critical gap in the foster care system: that transitional time between leaving the home and being placed in a foster home. Too often, kids spent their first displaced night away from home in a social worker’s office or at the police station, turning a difficult situation into a tragedy for innocent children. To this end, she created a transitional home, outfitted with everything a child needs to feel safe and loved as they wait for placement.
Her first Central Louisiana home has been so effective she is currently in the process of providing the service for three more. Funding for these homes comes through generous donations, profits from the Starfish Book Nook and Coffee Corner, and fundraisers like their upcoming Starfish Ministries’ Casino Night for a Cause.
Starfish Ministries’ Casino Night is taking place on October 18, 2025 in Pineville and they are searching for local businesses that would like to partner with them to sponsor this fun night. All sponsorships will include exclusive surprises such as a VIP cocktail hour, VIP seating and player chips. If interested in learning more about the sponsorship tiers, email them at starfishministriesllc@gmail.
If you are interested in attending, start looking now for your best “Roaring 20’s” attire and watch for upcoming announcements. Space is limited.
Their impact goes far beyond these homes, though. I love this. “Starfish is working now to build out our youth enrichment program and we are excited for what this will bring to our community as a whole but also especially to those in foster care.” Lachney shares.
With a move to their new location at 5508 Monroe Hwy, Ball earlier this year, they had room for expansion to include an inclusive playground for children of all abilities. Utilizing the space for birthday parties, special needs play, and most recently, a twice-monthly neurodiverse hang called Jake’s Play Pals. Co-sponsored by The Broom Tree and Cenla Playdates + Mom Breaks, these meet-ups are as much for parents as they are for children.
No one should have to do it alone. That’s the mission of all of these organizations and they are putting boots to the ground to lead the way.
For more information, visit www.starfishcenla.org.
