Statements
Mission
To provide solutions to community needs which have the greatest impact due to the nature of the problems. Therefore, we will show the love of God, help heal the broken hearted, and aim to set at liberty those who are bruised.
Background
Star Ministries, Inc. came about because from the Christian's in Actions Ministry through Morning Star Missionary Baptist. We wanted to have a strong impact on the community to meet the needs of the people. We took the idea to the church counsel, along with the application for the 501(c)(3) in hopes of opening a day care to help families to seek affordable child care. We went through many trainings and an Attorney Karren Ingle met with us about getting started. She reviews the 501(c)(3) data and met the list of board members, and she offered to pay the filing fee for the application and give us legal guidance. We submitted the application to the government in October 1996 and was approved March 1997. We were located in an old tavern on the corner of Lewis and Hart Street. We had a grand ribbon opening ceremony in May 1997,and began to see the growth of clients on a daily basis from Monday to Friday, we offered bible study on Wednesday evening, and we were the only night time food bank in the city of Nashville and still is.We gave away clothes, had toy drives, food drives, community functions and assist families with financial needs by way of the church. We even offered educational classes to those that could not read or write. In 2003 we outgrew our location and moved to our 1307 Lewis Street address. Since 2003, we have maintained the over abundant growth of clients in need. We have board meetings twice a year and the ministry is not affiliated with Morning Star. We have constitution and by-laws, and we are open on the third and fourth week of each month from 5:30 p.m to 7:00 p.m. Starting July 21st we are now open from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, once a month on the third week in order to meet the needs of families that get to us in the evening.
Impact
1. We have started a Tie Together program through the Martha O'Brien affiliation which is designed to offer parents the life skills to develop healthy, warm and loving relationships with their children. This program is free for families. 2. We are also affiliated with an organization called W.O.M.B (Women Overcoming Many Battles), which is a non-profit organization offering spiritual guidance and career preparation skills designed to motivate, inspire and strengthen women from various backgrounds as they pursue their daily walk with Christ. They offer training sessions to anyone that wants to learn how to prepare resumes, dress for success and skills on the computer for obtaining jobs. 3. We have distributed over 2,400 food boxes to families in need, and referred them to churches and agencies for assistance with rent, light bills, water bills. Fans were distributed to over 100 elderly in the summer, and our Christmas toy drive was given to over 180 families. In 2009 we have implemented a home repairs program for people in need (elderly) with the assistance of Belmont University students, men from various churches throughout the city, thus far we have successfully assisted three families and in the process of assisting two more; setting up fundraising efforts to have funds available for impoverished families; a citywide feed the hungry campaign with the Nashville Rescue Mission on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at their parking lot; food drives throughout the year from community churches, organizations and college campus, etc.; a toy drive; and continued community service to those they need to meet guidelines for the courts (juvenile, civil and criminal). We also are working with the State of Tennessee in a one on one contact with inmates before they are release to help them reform to society. We are now receiving food from the USDA Program through Second Harvest for low income families.
Needs
1. Finances as always to help keep the shelves full of food for many families as these economic times are worsening. $500 to $5,000 could help us stay afloat for 4 months at a time. 2. We need a PR person on a volunteer basis to help us let the city know who we are, where we are, what we need and get others involved. Anyone can come to our site and see it for themselves. 3.Volunteers to help with grant writing for funds. 4. Monies to assist paying utilities, rent, buy medicine and transportation for people in need. ($500 - $5,000). 5. More programs for the need (example: WIC for the area; assist with alcohol and drug counseling, etc.). 6. Continue to offer community service need to individuals that need it (such as juveniles, traffic violations, whatever the need). 7. For the holidays season we need laptops, food supplies (household items, feminine products, baby items), clothes, and toys. We have many families with large amount of children in them from the ages of 3 months to 12 years of age, and ages 14 to 18. The older children are always left out because most donors give to younger children. This year we would like to give to both age groups, and laptops, and clothes would be fantastic. Any help we get will be appreciated.
CEO Statement
My dream is to see this food bank open doors to as many improvised families throughout the city, county and state of Tennessee. With these economic times as they are we need to have food available to all people, finances to help assist in ways we can, and just reach out and touch lives as we take this daily walk. I feel that this could be me, because none of us know what tomorrow holds. Star Ministries has been a passion of mine for 12 years, and I will seek ways of keeping the doors open as much as possible. We are out there trying to recruit different areas interested in doing a food drive for us. One of the comments my staff made is that we are seeing people asking for help who used to donate to us. Demand on food and cash donations have fallen off 30 percent since last fall, and it will get worse before it gets better. This is why we strive to seek help from anyone, agencies, organizations, individuals, etc. who can assist in any way in fundraising, food drive or publicity efforts on behalf of food banks. Our doors will remain open to become a beacon of hope in the community, provide leadership and achieve the goal of stomping out hunger throughout the city of Nashville, TN. Thank you, Delores Williams Executive Director
Board Chair Statement
Star Ministries is unique in that it is located in one of the worse areas of Nashville, TN, known as the bottom, where homelessness is like a day in the park, where crime is committed daily, AIDS is open, rapes occur often, and people from all walks of life end up in this area because of lack of resources and means of assistance. The Executive Director and staff have taken on the task of conquering these everyday situations by having a food bank that offers ears, and eyes to listen, feel and get involved to show individuals and families there is a better way. The crime rate has reduced by 25% since they have been in operation. People are being assisted as much as possible, and if they can't assist, they will refer them to other resources. I am very proud to be a part of this great ministry regardless of it's location. People in places of this nature need nurturing, love and most of all Christ as we, the whole individuals, do. Every dollar that is donated, items given or doors that are opened is appreciated and used for the purpose that it is needed for (food, clothes, utilities, etc.), and anyone can take their donations off as tax deductible. With the help of Martha O'Brien and W.O.M.B., we are now able to offer more opportunities to families, individuals, handicap, elderly, blind, etc. in need and they are beginning to see that they are an important part of society as well. We open our doors to as many agencies or individuals that want to come and see this ministry at work.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Food, Agriculture & Nutrition - Food Banks, Food Pantries |
| Secondary Category: | Community Improvement, Capacity Building - Community Improvement, Capacity Building N.E.C. |
| Tertiary Category: | Human Services - Human Services NEC |
Areas Served
Nashville, Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Madison, Goodlettsville, any surrounding counties.
| TN - Davidson |
