May is National Foster Care Month—a time to pause and take a closer look at a system many have heard of, but few fully understand. Foster care exists to provide temporary safe homes for children who cannot remain with their families due to abuse, neglect, or other unsafe circumstances.
In Shelby County alone, hundreds of children enter foster care each year, and at any given time, around 1,000 children are in the system. While each child’s story is different, they all enter the system during moments of deep uncertainty, often carrying trauma, loss, and the weight of a world that has suddenly shifted beneath them.
Behind every statistic is a child experiencing one of the hardest moments of their life, also known as “removal day”—when a child is taken from their home for their own safety. When children are removed, they are often brought to a child welfare office to wait for placement. That wait can last for hours—or even days. Many arrive with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing and the weight of what they’ve just experienced. They are scared, hungry, exhausted, and unsure of what comes next.
Isaiah 117 House exists to change what that waiting period looks like. Instead of spending hours in a cold, sterile office, children are brought to a real home—one designed to feel safe, calm, and welcoming—where they can rest while arrangements are made for their placement. In the middle of overwhelming uncertainty, the children are met with comfort, care, and dignity.
“Isaiah 117 House provides a safe landing place for kids on the day they are removed from their homes for their safety,” said Kellye Sterling, who oversees volunteers and community outreach for the Shelby County Isaiah 117 House. “It is an actual house with trained volunteers who help reduce the trauma by providing attentive care on an already difficult day.”
For the volunteers at Isaiah 117 House, creating a safe environment starts from the moment a child arrives. Each child is greeted with a friendly face and a welcoming presence in order to meet the kids where they are and let them know they’re safe. Because most kids arrive with nothing, they are given a bag filled with brand-new essentials—clean clothes, toiletries, and something special just for them, like a toy or book. These simple gifts meet immediate needs while quietly reminding each child that they matter.
“By this time, they are beginning to relax a bit,” Kellye said. “Our volunteers are the best at helping them feel at home.”
From there, the atmosphere shifts from crisis to care. Children can choose their favorite meal—anything they want. They play games, spend time outside, or simply rest. In the middle of a disruptive day, they are given space to breathe, to feel safe, and to just be kids again.
For Kellye, the mission of Isaiah 117 House is deeply personal—rooted in her own experiences with foster care, which gave her a firsthand view of what a child can experience on removal day.
“We adopted our youngest son in 2020 through foster care,” Kellye said. “At that time, I had never heard the term ‘removal day,’ but thinking of him sleeping on a floor after all he had experienced is unimaginable. Once I became aware of Isaiah 117 House, it was an easy yes. A home instead of an office is the clear choice for our kids.”
Though children may only stay at an Isaiah 117 House for a short time, the impact of this ministry is lasting.
“Hearing their conversations, seeing them ask if a volunteer will be back the next day, reading notes they leave behind, and receiving their hugs remind me of my why,” Kellye said.
One of the most powerful aspects of Isaiah 117 House is that anyone can be part of the mission. Some people volunteer inside the home. Others donate finances or clothing, host awareness events, or help spread the word in their churches and workplaces. This summer, supporters are hosting a lemonade stand in July and a golf tournament in September.
“It is beautiful to see how people get involved,” Kellye said. “The list is only limited by your imagination.”
Foster care is complex, messy, and at times uncertain. Matthew 25:35–40 offers a framework for what can otherwise feel overwhelming, and it gives clarity to our call: not to have all the answers, but to show up for those in need.
“We see that Christ calls us into the mess—not necessarily to fix it, but to offer relief: food, water, welcome, clothing, friendship, and advocacy,” Kellye said.
You can make a difference this National Foster Care Month through prayer, support, or by simply learning more. On one of the hardest days of a foster child’s life, something as simple as a safe, loving home can change everything.
Click here to explore Bellevue’s Serve Out Pathways and learn more about how you can minister to foster families.
If you want to partner with Isaiah 117 House, email shelbytn@isaiah117house.com or visit isaiah117house.com/tennessee.