The Heart of Our Purpose
We founded Riddley’s Helping Hands on a calling laid upon our hearts—
to be the hands and feet of Christ for the children of Tennessee.
What began as a simple “yes” to serve children in DCS/CPS care has grown into a ministry rooted in compassion, obedience, and faith. We are humbled to walk alongside families in their hardest seasons, providing clothing and everyday essentials as a tangible expression of God’s love and provision.
Each story we encounter reminds us why we serve—that no child should carry the weight of unmet needs alone. Our prayer is that by meeting these physical needs, we can lift a burden, restore dignity, and create space for healing, hope, and peace.
Because at the heart of it all, we are simply answering the call:
“To love one another as He has loved us.”
Meet the Team
Meet Mara- a wife, mother, devoted Christian, foster care advocate, and adoptive mom. Her life is centered around her family as a stay-at-home mom and caregiver to her own mother, her days are full, but her lifelong passion has always been caring for children.
Born and raised in Cookeville, Tennessee, Mara met the love of her life, Seth, and they were married in 2013. Together, they built their home on his family farm on the outskirts of Smith County, Tennessee, where they raise cattle and sheep. Their world revolves around their two children, Rosie & Derek.
Through her journey as a foster and adoptive mother, Mara experienced firsthand both the beauty and the brokenness within the foster care system. Those experiences, along with a deep desire to serve others, led her to create Riddley’s Helping Hands—a ministry rooted in compassion, community, and meeting practical needs in moments of crisis.
Riddley’s Helping Hands was created from both lived experience and deep loss. What began as a moment of need in foster care—and a desire to honor her son Riddley—has grown into a mission to ensure that foster families feel supported and that every child who enters care feels seen, valued, and deeply loved. (Read our full story →)
Meet Michelle - a wife and mom to an amazing little family—husband Nico and two beautiful children, Taylor and Nico Jr. They are her whole world and the reason behind so many of the choices she has made in life.
Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Michelle worked as an ultrasound technician, a career that was truly valued and enjoyed. But when they made the decision to move from New York to Tennessee, it wasn’t just about a change in location—it was about creating a better life for their family and growing closer to their faith.
Since being here, she has been blessed in so many ways, especially through meeting her dear friend Mara. Her friendship has had such a meaningful impact on her life. She opened her eyes and heart to the realities of the adoption and foster care system, something she’s wanted to be involved in but needed the right guidance.
Being a stay-at-home mom has given her the opportunity to reflect on how to give back and support others. She’s felt a strong calling to do something meaningful—something that helps children and families who are in need of love, support, and stability.
Michelle is excited for the growth, faith, and purpose Riddley's Helping Hands can have on all of our surrounding communities.
Meet Taylor- a board member for this foundation with a deep sense of purpose and gratitude. What began as her friend’s story of unimaginable loss—the passing of their son at birth—has become a beautiful testimony of love, resilience, and redemption through foster care and adoption. She truly believes the Lord has a way of bringing purpose from pain, and this foundation is a reflection of that.
She says being part of this mission allows her to walk alongside families in both heartbreak and hope. She is passionate about supporting children and caregivers in the foster system, helping create stability, encouragement, and a true sense of belonging.
She is married to her husband, Grant, and a stay-at-home mom to their three children—Harrison, Harvie Kate, and George Henry. She says life at home is full, sweet, and a little wild, and it constantly reminds her just how important it is for every child to feel safe, known, and deeply loved. It is an honor to play even a small role in that for others.
Meet Whitney- a native of the Upper Cumberland region born and raised in Livingston, TN. She attended Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN where she went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science. She then married her husband, Dustin Rich, of fifteen years, and they have two happy and healthy children, Amelia and Archer, together.
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She currently works as a patient advocate, insurance broker, and a certified pharmacy tech to guide patients in navigating insurance, aid them in applying for various programs for extra help, and assist with lowering their drug cost with manufacturer programs. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and camping/hiking.
She has a true passion for helping others of all ages and a heart to serve where there is a need. She wants to reflect a mission of service, dignity, and the love of Christ to ensure that when a child walks into the foster care system they know they are seen, loved, and valued by a God who never forgets them. She believes this foundation is the bridge to help connect families to the vital resources they need to thrive plus the means to make kids feel safe, welcomed, and loved. She is excited and grateful to be a part of this team that strives for every child to feel hope and every caregiver to feel supported.
Board of Directors
Mara Lish- President
Michelle Ibanez- Treasurer
Taylor James- Secretary
Whitney Rich- Board Member
Our Foundation
01
Direct Deliverance
We bridge the gap by bringing essential necessities straight to the children and families who need them. Action is the heartbeat of our organization.
02
Preserving Dignity
Every child deserves new and clean essentials. Providing items that restore dignity is just as important as the items themselves.
03
Radical Accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest standard of transparency for our donors and the families we serve across Tennessee.
04
Compassionate Care
The core of Riddley's Helping Hands is a deep commitment to the well-being and future of children in crisis.