By Jeanni Ritchie
A night of laughter, live music, and a whole lot of bingo added up to big community support for Starfish Ministries at the organization’s Royal Bingo Night last month.
Held to support local children and families in foster care, the event brought together supporters from across Central Louisiana for ten rounds of bingo, two blackout games, a silent auction, and a dinner catered by Toddfathers.
I attended with my dad, my daughter Kelsey, and my best friend Mary, and while none of us won a game — leaving me to question my less-than-goodwill attitude every time someone from a nearby table yelled “BINGO!” — we had a blast. I’d had my heart set on that cruise-for-two prize!
The food was as memorable as the games — shrimp skewers, sliders, BBQ egg rolls, deviled eggs topped with shrimp, and blueberry cobbler — and the music by DJ Anxiety kept the energy high all evening.
During intermission, the crowd hit the floor for the Cha-Cha Slide and Cupid Shuffle, while I sang along to every word of Party in the U.S.A., telling my tablemates about a year when I was teaching third grade and at least ten girls performed that same song in the school talent show.
Photographer Sydney Boudreaux captured the fun at an elegant photo station fit for royalty. I’d forgotten to mention the optional dress code to my daughter — setting myself up for a royal dress-down when we arrived! Fortunately, we weren’t the only ones who chose comfort over crowns, though I did bring my princess wand to sprinkle a little bibbidi-bobbidi-boo over our bingo cards.
Crown Jewel Sponsors were GlobeCom Media and DJ Anxiety, while Junk Be Gone served as the Presenting Sponsor. Many other community partners joined in support of Starfish’s mission, including Red River Bank, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Louisiana Eye & Laser, DIS-TRAN Steel, Boise Cascade, BOM Bank, Crest Industries, Rick’s Auto Sales 2, Southern Heritage Bank, WoodmenLife, Timeless Salon, and Unitech Training Academy.
Several local restaurants and attractions donated prizes, along with area Airbnb owners who offered free stays as auction packages. Coordinated beautifully by Amber Sayer, it was a spectacular evening from start to finish.
Proceeds from the event support Starfish Ministries, a local nonprofit that provides safe housing, support, and resources for children, youth, and families in need through sustainable programs and community-driven initiatives — because, as their motto reminds us, it matters to the one.
Founder Jessica Lachney often shares the story that inspired the ministry’s name: A young boy walking along the shore sees a starfish washed up on the sand and tosses it back into the ocean. When told he can’t make a difference because there are too many starfish, he simply replies, “I made a difference to that one.”
Lachney might have been content to change one child’s life, but her compassion has rippled across thousands. Recognized even in New York for her philanthropic work, she still counts her greatest rewards as the drawings on her fridge and the smiles at bedtime from children whose lives have been changed by love.
We are all merely foot soldiers in Jessica Lachney’s mission to make a difference in the lives of foster kids in Central Louisiana.
Jeanni Ritchie is a freelance writer from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
