Each year, Bellevue Loves Memphis gives our church family the opportunity to step out and serve our city in tangible ways—through painting, landscaping, sharing meals, and meeting real needs across Memphis. But Bellevue Loves Memphis does more than fill a single Saturday—it also champions the ministries carrying that work forward every day.
One of those ministries is WRAP—Bellevue members who are dedicated to supporting foster and adoptive families in practical, everyday ways. For Ashleigh Thompson, what started as a simple commitment to that team a few years ago became something more. From providing meals and babysitting to building relationships with the children, Ashleigh has stepped into the everyday realities of a foster family’s life. And those realities can be overwhelming.
“Foster care is a very lonely, hard place to be,” Ashleigh said. “These families are dealing with everything a typical family does, but also trauma, therapy appointments, court dates, and constant uncertainty. It’s a 24/7 responsibility.”
One of the most meaningful ways Bellevue comes alongside these families is through a night of respite care where foster parents can step away, knowing their children are safe, cared for, and loved.
“To have three hours where no one needs anything from you—that’s huge for these families,” Ashleigh said. “It’s time they rarely get.”
It may not seem like much. But for a foster parent carrying constant responsibility, those few hours create space to breathe, reset, and return with renewed strength. Moments like these don’t just provide rest—they help prevent burnout. That’s where Bellevue Loves Memphis plays a bigger role than many realize.
While the workday itself is a powerful moment of service, it also helps support ongoing ministries, making it possible to continue meeting needs long after the day is over.
Volunteers who take part in one day of service help spur ministry partners on in the work happening day in and day out. From preparing resources to showing up in meaningful ways, they become part of a larger rhythm of care that extends far beyond a single project. Through the intentional service, trust is built, hearts are softened, and the love of Christ is made visible—not just in words, but in action.
“It’s not glamorous. It’s behind the scenes, and sometimes it’s inconvenient,” Ashleigh said. “But it’s also very real. You’re seeing the needs, meeting them, and building relationships that last.”
Bellevue Loves Memphis is not just a day to serve—it’s an invitation to step into something ongoing. A starting point for deeper involvement. A reminder that loving our city means showing up again and again.
Because when we serve together, we reflect the heart of Christ to a city that needs His hope. And sometimes, the most powerful ministry isn’t what happens in a single day of serving, but the love that is shared and the relationships that continue long after.
To find out how you can serve year-round with Bellevue, visit bellevue.org/pathways.