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Parker Street Ministries Blog
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. – Psalm 136
New Staff Spotlight – Meet Diana Cruz
Meet Diana Cruz—Parker Street Ministries’ Finance Associate! Raised in Manatee County, Diana moved to the area about two and a half years ago. She’s currently working toward her accounting degree at the University of South Florida and brings experience in bookkeeping,...
Summer Camp 2025
This summer, about 100 youth in K-8 participated in Summer Camp! Campers in K-8 were offered: 40 Summer Camp days Breakfast, lunch, and one snack per day 64 academic hours consisting of reading, math, and practical life skills Daily Bible instruction and prayer...
Students Start Smart
Huge thanks to the faithful individuals, businesses, and more who made the Start Smart Education Essentials campaign a success! Because of you, as of August 11, 168 kids from the Parker Street and North Lake Wire neighborhoods started school fully prepared—89 in Pre-K...
Summer Leadership Program Graduates
Congratulations to Joy Williams (Volunteer & Events Coordinator) and Paige Connell (HR Generalist) who graduated from the Lakeland Economic Development Council’s Summer Leadership Program! SLP connects interns and new hires (ages 21-32) through a 5-week experience...
Workforce Lab Celebrates 10 Years
Workforce Lab celebrated 10 years this summer! This program continues to prepare rising ninth and tenth graders who live in the Parker Street neighborhood for life beyond high school as they enter the workforce. Workforce Lab teaches soft job skills and financial...
Summer Internships: Building Skills, Confidence, and Community
This summer, Parker Street Ministries furthered its mission of Gospel-centered community development by investing in its Lifetime Learning focus area in a special way—through hands-on internships for neighborhood youth. Five high school students, all of whom had...
Staff Spotlight – Christina Allen Celebrates 20 Years at PSM
Christina Allen has faithfully served as PSM’s Education Director for two decades, pouring her heart into students, families, and the neighborhood. She marked her 20th anniversary at PSM on August 5, 2025. Christina was raised in Kissimmee and moved to Lakeland in...
Staff Spotlight – Kyle Groesch
Kyle Groesch, Administrative Assistant, has been a part of the PSM family since 2023. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Kyle moved to Lakeland five years ago, and has since received a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and a master’s degree in theology from...
Help Students Start Smart
It's that time again—time to help set the stage for academic success for neighborhood students through the summer Start Smart Education Essentials opportunity. The hope is to provide backpacks filled with supplies for individual classroom needs, year-round access to...
Summer Challenge Match Opportunity
A NEED YOU CAN MEET We get it—operations funding isn’t flashy. But it’s one of the greatest needs for nonprofits like ours. With rising costs, a growing team, and critical wraparound services for families in the Parker Street and North Lake Wire neighborhoods, the...