Since its founding, Whetro has been a driving force in advocating for adults with developmental disabilities. What began as a vision for greater inclusion has grown into a dynamic organization making a lasting impact across the community. Under her leadership, Building Blocks has created programs, opportunities, and support systems that have touched countless lives.

“From humble beginnings fueled by a passion for inclusion, to the dynamic and impactful work we do today, this journey has been nothing short of incredible,” Whetro reflected. “Together, we’ve created lasting changes that have positively impacted countless lives. For all of this, I am deeply grateful.”

Though stepping away from her executive role, Whetro’s commitment to serving the community will continue. She has accepted the position of Chair of the Family Care Council Area 13, where she will bring her experience and advocacy to a new capacity. She will also remain connected to Building Blocks as a member of the Board of Directors, continuing in the role of Founding Director and offering support in an advisory capacity.

In preparation for the transition, the Building Blocks Ministries Board of Directors has appointed Jillian Powell as Incoming Executive Director, effective September 1, 2025. Whetro expressed her confidence in Powell’s leadership, noting, “I have every confidence that Jillian will continue to lead Building Blocks with the same passion and vision that have guided us thus far.”

Whetro also extended her gratitude to the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, donors, and the many supporters who have been part of the organization’s journey. “None of our achievements would have been possible without their tireless commitment to our mission,” she said.

As the organization looks toward the future, Whetro’s legacy of advocacy and inclusion will remain a cornerstone of Building Blocks Ministries.

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Building Blocks Ministries announces the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child and Adult Care Food Program. Nondiscrimination Policy: Meals will be available at no separate charge to enrolled eligible participants at the center listed below and will be provided regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation.

Free and Reduced Price-Meal Policy Statement; Participants eligible for free and/or reduced price meals must complete an application with documentation of eligibility information including the number and names of household members, the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the head of household/primary wage earner or adult signing the application or an indication that a household member does not have one, total monthly household income or Food Stamps, SSI, or Medicaid identification number, and the signature of an adult care center participant.

Name of Facility: Building Blocks Ministries Adult Day Training Address: 644 Gadson St., Groveland, FL 34736.

The Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price Meals, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Free Meals

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA.

The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Located in Groveland, Building Blocks Ministries has been serving the community since 2006 providing a Day Training Program and Transportation services, working daily to fulfill their mission; “Empowering adults with developmental disabilities to dream, believe in themselves and engage in training designed to support individual achievements.” Building Blocks Ministries is a FL Medicaid Waiver Provider and accepts private payment. For enrollment information please contact Jillian Powell, Client Services Manager at 352-536-9264 or by email at info@buildingblocksministries.com. To learn more about Building Blocks Ministries, please visit the website www.buildingblocksministries.com and follow us on Facebook.                                                 

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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.

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Building Blocks Ministries is a non-profit that builds lives by encouraging others to dream, empowering them to believe in themselves and engaging them in the community to achieve their dreams. 

To learn more, visit Building Blocks Ministries

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The project provides opportunities for; socialization and team building, as individuals in the Community Involvement Class work together to crush and bag the cans, visit a local recycling center, create a budget and shopping list, shop in the community, make purchases with cash, learning how to make donations to a local food pantry, and volunteering in the community. 

The items purchased with the cash from the cans are donated to the Neighborhood Center of South Lake where individuals in the Community Involvement class volunteer each week. Just in the last two months the project has brought in over $34.00 and allowed for 56 canned or boxed food items to be donated to the pantry. With the help of our community, we know the project can make an even bigger impact. We ask that you consider helping your neighbors by dropping your cans off to Building Blocks Ministries instead of dropping them in your trash or recycling bin. 

All rinsed and bagged aluminum beverage cans can be dropped off at Building Blocks Ministries, 548 S. Highway 27, Suite C, Minneola in the Trailside Plaza. Hours of operation are from 8:30 AM – 4 PM Monday through Friday. Bags of cans can also be left by the door afterhours. 

Building Blocks Ministries has been serving the community since 2006 providing a Day Training Program that includes Transportation and a Lunch Program. Building Blocks Ministries is a FL Medicaid Waiver Provider and an approved provider of the Adult Care Food Program. Private payment is also accepted for services. For enrollment information please contact Coretta Daniels, Program Director at 352-536-9264 or by email at info@buildingblocksministries.com. To learn more about Building Blocks please visit the website www.buildingblocksministries.com and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BuildingBlocksMinistriesInc 

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Free and Reduced Price-Meal Policy Statement;

Participants eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals must complete an application with documentation of eligibility information including the number and names of household members, the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the head of household/primary wage earner or adult signing the application or an indication that a household member does not have one, total monthly household income or Food Stamps, SSI, or Medicaid identification number, and the signature of an adult care center participant. 

Name of Facility: Building Blocks Ministries Adult Day Training 

The Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals, effective date July 1,2023-June 30, 2024 

Located in Minneola at 548 South US Highway 27, Suite C, Building Blocks Ministries has been serving the community since 2006 providing a Day Training Program and Transportation services, working daily to fulfill their mission; “Empowering adults with developmental disabilities to dream, believe in themselves and engage in training designed to support individual achievements.” Building Blocks Ministries is a FL Medicaid Waiver Provider and accepts private payment.

For enrollment information please contact Coretta Daniels, Case Manager at 352-536-9264 or by email at info@buildingblocksministries.com. To learn more about Building Blocks Ministries, please visit the website www.buildingblocksministries.com and follow us on Facebook. 

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Building Blocks Ministries mission is to “Empower adults with developmental disabilities to dream, believe in themselves and engage in training designed to support individual achievements.”

“Building Blocks Ministries is pleased to receive his grant award to support these additional expenses. The agreement with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities does not provide reimbursement for travel costs provided to individuals for community activities of the Day Training Program. To fulfil our vision of “full inclusion and participation in all aspects of the community” we must rely on the generous support of foundations such as the McLin Foundation,” said Paula Whetro, Executive Director of Building Blocks Ministries.

At Building Blocks Ministries, we see firsthand the joy and excitement that community training activities bring to adults with developmental disabilities. Feeling connected to the community we live in is important. Equally important is a healthy nutritious lunch, as an Adult Care Food Program provider for the Department of Elder Affairs we are able to provide lunch for those who attend the Day Training Program. We believe that the funds from the Charles B. and Mary M. McLin Foundation will have a significant impact in the lives of adults with developmental disabilities.

Located in Minneola, Building Blocks Ministries has been serving the community since 2006 providing a Day Training Program that includes Transportation Services, Case Management Services and an Adult Care Food Program. Building Blocks Ministries is a FL Medicaid Waiver Provider and accepts private payment.

For enrollment information please contact Coretta Daniels, Program Director at 352-536-9264 or by email at info@buildingblocksministries.com. To learn more about Building Blocks please visit the website www.buildingblocksministries.com and follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BuildingBlocksMinistriesInc

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“The visit to Building Blocks Ministries was warm and welcoming and the kids were awesome.  I have presented a lot of checks over the years but the donation given to these kids” was totally heartwarming,  said Beta Theta President Michelle Delaney.

Building Blocks Ministries is a 501(c)(3) 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. 

Building Blocks Ministries offers a Day Training Program, an Adult Care Food Program, Transportation, and Cast Management. 

Dr. Paula Whetro envisions full inclusion and participation of individuals with developmental disabilities in all aspects of the community. Having an adult daughter with developmental disabilities connects Dr. Whetro to her work.

She earned a PhD in Clinical Christian Counseling in 2005 and began working in the field of developmental disabilities as a waiver support coordinator. While in this work, she discovered the need for a training program that would encourage adults with developmental disabilities to dream, empower them to believe in themselves and engage them in the community where they can achieve their dreams. Building Blocks Ministries emerged as a place that focuses on “building lives”.

Being dedicated to the nonprofit sector Dr. Whetro completed UCF Center for Public and Nonprofit Management Strengthening Communities in Central Florida Program, Rollins College Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center Leadership Practice Course and is also a member of the 2015 Leadership Lake Class.

Building Blocks Ministries

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Building Blocks Ministries is “Empowering adults with developmental disabilities to dream, believe in themselves and engage in training designed to support individual achievements”, said Dr. Whetro.

BUILDING BLOCKS MINISTRIES IS COLLECTING CANS FOR CASH 

Learn more, visit website: BUILDINGBLOCKS. It’s located at 548 S Hwy 27 C, Minneola, FL 3471 Phone: (352) 536-9264.  

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