by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The South Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Building Blocks Ministries, Inc (BBM) headquarters on Thursday, October 3, 2024. The new building, located at 644 Gadson Street, Groveland, is a long-time dream come true for Executive Director Paula Whetro. Guests and representatives from partnerships that made the dream a reality, were given a tour of the spacious and modern facility that includes classrooms, life-skills training spaces, a staff and executive office wing, a comfortable conference room, and a full-service kitchen that also serves as a training mechanism for the clients of BBM.
Several years of careful planning not only ensured the most appropriate use of allocated funds but also ensured that every facet of the facility was geared towards the practical and safe operation to serve the special needs clients of BBM and to accommodate the growing needs of staff.
The collaboration of partnerships included several organizations and businesses in the community including, Livewell Foundation of South Lake, Community Foundation of South Lake, Harper Family Charitable Foundation, David & Donna Batelaan Fund, United Way, Powell Architecture Studio, GP Construction, Blackton Inc., The Cox Family, June H. Jones Foundation, and Highland Engineering. A delicious barbeque meal prepared onsite by the Erb and Young Insurance Agency was provided for the guests during the open house and tour.
With a vision of full inclusion and participation of individuals with developmental disabilities, Building Blocks Ministries is a non-profit organization that builds lives by encouraging others to dream, empowering them to believe in themselves, and engaging them in the community to achieve their dreams.
BBM offers day classes to clients Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am-2:30 pm. Visit BuildingBlocksMinistries.com for a full listing of programs offered and other information relating to developmental disabilities.
