Bridging gaps.
Building community.
Bringing good news.

We're a partnership of local churches serving neighbors in Bellmead, Lacy Lakeview, and Elm Mott/Chalk Bluff with case management, emergency help, and the kind of neighbor-to-neighbor care that outlasts a single crisis.

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A circle of neighbors from different generations and backgrounds joining hands in prayer

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God..."

1 John 4:7

Our Mission

Tri-Cities Ministries is dedicated to bridging gaps for our neighbors through case management and emergency assistance, building partnerships through community engagement, and bringing the Good News and love of Jesus Christ for all.

Our Vision

Through our work, we hope to see our communities be healed, the ravages of poverty lessened, and for people to come to Jesus because the unified church loved them.

Our Inclusion

Everyone is welcome here. Your faith, background, or identity will never affect your access to our help. Our services are confidential, and we treat everyone who comes through our doors with dignity and respect.

Read our full inclusion statement

Your access to services will not be affected by your faith, spirituality, philosophical perspective, or other identities or backgrounds such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, substance use, immigration status, or past involvement with the justice system. Our services are confidential, and we serve everyone who comes through our doors with dignity and respect.

Our Values

What we mean when we say "ministry"

These aren't words on a poster. They shape how our volunteers, case managers, and partner churches show up for every neighbor, in every conversation.

  • Compassion
  • Hope
  • Christian Hospitality
  • Service
  • Justice
  • Advocacy
  • Truth
  • Connection
  • Love
  • Recognizing Sacred Worth
  • Collaboration
  • Empowerment
40+ years serving the Tri-Cities, starting as the Tri-Cities Ministerial Association
2017 Tri-Cities Ministries became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit
14 partner churches working as one
45 families helped each month, on average, in 2026

Our Story

It started with a phone call from the police department.

Decades ago, the Bellmead Police Department reached out to area churches. People in the community, and people passing through, were in crisis over their most basic needs, sometimes desperate enough that it became a police matter. Congregations across Bellmead, Lacy Lakeview, and what was then Northcrest responded by pooling what they already had: their benevolence funds.

What they found was simple. When the churches worked together instead of separately, they could help far more neighbors than any one congregation could alone. That fellowship grew into the Tri-Cities Ministerial Association, and eventually into Tri-Cities Ministries, a formal nonprofit since February 2017. It's still built on the same idea: many churches, working as one.

Today the work is led by Executive Director Ryan Simpson, a Bellmead native and La Vega High graduate, alongside a team of volunteer hosts, case managers, and administrators who show up week after week.

Our Partner Churches

One mission, fourteen congregations

What We Do

Our name is our roadmap

Every family who comes through our door is met by a real person who listens first. Our name describes the three parts of that work.

A volunteer's hands holding a cardboard box labeled Food Aid
01

Bridging Gaps

Emergency help with rent, utilities, food, and transportation for neighbors in the 76705 and 76640 ZIP codes. Our Journey Together program pairs neighbors with a caring volunteer to set goals and work toward long-term stability.

76705 & 76640
A volunteer wearing a Volunteer t-shirt helping someone with a walker
02

Building Community

We build relationships between churches, schools, nonprofits, local businesses, community leaders, and residents across Bellmead, Lacy Lakeview, and Elm Mott/Chalk Bluff. That's how we strengthen neighborhoods and build community.

Bellmead, Lacy Lakeview, Elm Mott/Chalk Bluff
One person carefully bandaging another person's hand
03

Bringing Good News

Churches from different denominations working as one, caring for the physical and spiritual needs of our communities side by side, because both matter.

Many churches, one mission

Get Involved

Five ways to bridge the gap with us

Host a Food Drive

Organize or contribute to a drive for families in need.

Volunteer

Serve as a host, case manager, administrative volunteer, or event volunteer.

Donate

One-time or monthly gifts keep emergency help and case management going all year.

Pray

Hold our neighbors, volunteers, and churches in prayer.

Join the Mailing List

Get news and needs from across the Tri-Cities in your inbox.

Get Involved

Volunteer with us

You don't need special experience, just a willing heart and a little time. Here's where most volunteers plug in.

Hosts

Welcome neighbors when they arrive, keep track of who comes in, and walk them through check-in, making sure we have the information we need.

Case managers

Meet with neighbors one-on-one to understand what they need and how we can help.

Administrative Volunteers

Keep things running behind the scenes with paperwork, phone calls, bookkeeping, social media, scheduling, and follow-up.

Events

Lend a hand at community events, food drives, fundraisers, and outreach tables.

Apply to Volunteer

Get Involved

Organize or contribute to a food drive

Buy items and drop them off, order directly from our Amazon Wish List, or organize a food or hygiene drive at your workplace or congregation.

Shop Our Amazon Wish List Host a Food Drive

Family Food Bags

Oatmeal, pancake mix, cereal, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, dried beans, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, canned soup, box desserts, canned vegetables, canned meat, and bread mix.

Individual To-Go Bags

Granola bars, fruit cups, canned meat with a pull-tab lid, peanut butter crackers, pudding cups, canned soup with a pull-tab lid, Pop-Tarts, bottled water, and cutlery.

Hygiene Packs

Toothpaste, freezer bags, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, bar soap, combs, washcloths, hand lotion, and laundry detergent.

Drop-off location: Lakeview Baptist Church, 125 N. Bermuda St., Lacy Lakeview, TX 76705 (get directions). Look for the donation box at the front entrance. Organizing a group drive? Please email LoveOthers@tricitiesministries.org in advance so we can help coordinate your donation. We're glad to help with promotional materials and pickup.

Get Involved

Pray with us

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

James 5:16

We believe God hears these prayers, and that He can transform lives, families, and communities through them. Join us in praying for the neighbors we walk alongside, for our case managers and volunteers, and for our partner churches working together as one.

Fall Banquet 2026: Thursday, Oct. 1, 6:00 to 7:30 PM

In Unity: Churches, Community, and Neighbors Working Together

At St. Paul Lutheran Church. Seats and sponsorships start at $50.

Reserve Your Seat

Our Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors

Their generosity at our 2026 Fall Banquet keeps help close to home all year long.

Get Help

If you need help, start here.

Case managers meet with neighbors in person on Tuesdays. Every visit is confidential, and everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

We currently serve households in 76705 and 76640

Our service area includes Bellmead, Lacy Lakeview, and Elm Mott/Chalk Bluff. Please check your ZIP code before you gather documents. Live somewhere else? See other resources at the bottom of this section.

When and where

When
Tuesdays, 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Doors close
2:30 PM. If you arrive by 2:30 PM, we will assist you.
Walk-ins
Walk-ins only, no appointment necessary.
Where
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1301 Hogan Ln, Waco, TX 76705
Tip: type "St. Paul Lutheran Church" into your GPS instead of the street address.
Phone
254-777-5229
Email
LoveOthers@tricitiesministries.org

Before you come

  • Make sure your ZIP code is 76705 or 76640.
  • Gather the documents listed below for the kind of help you need.
  • You don't need to call before visiting, but you're welcome to reach us at 254-777-5229 with questions.
  • Holiday closures and schedule changes are posted on our Facebook page. We're usually closed the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week and during Christmas and New Year's weeks.

What to bring

Everyone brings

  • A current ID or driver's license
  • Proof of residence, like a bill in your name or a lease agreement
  • Proof of need, like a recent job loss or other financial hardship

For rent assistance

  • Current lease agreement in your name
  • Landlord contact information
  • A receipt showing your current balance

For utility assistance

  • Current bill in your name
  • A receipt showing your current balance

For a gas card or bus pass

  • Proof of a doctor's appointment or job interview

We help with the final portion of a bill once the rest of the balance is paid down: up to $150 for rent, $100 for electric, and $75 for water or gas. Gas cards are $10. We are unable to give out cash.

Outside our ZIP codes, or need a different kind of help? Call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org to find food, housing, health, and utility help near you. It's free and confidential.