Parker Street Ministries is an integral part of a poverty-stricken downtown neighborhood in Lakeland, FL. I have been involved since 2008 as a board member, volunteer and financial donor. Parker Street Ministries is unique in that staff members and volunteers have made a decision to be intentional residents in the neighborhood they serve on a daily basis. By becoming involved in the lives of the neighborhood families in an intimate and deliberate way, we see positive changes taking place; broken famlies are being mended, residents are working to improve their living conditions and children are improving in their school work. This ministry has given hope to families who believed there was no hope. With the recently purchased and renovated facilities located in the heart of the neighborhood, we are now able to ministry to the entire family unit providing academic enrichment, a computer lab, financial workshops, summer camp and special events. We are grateful for the many volunteers that help serve the needs in this community. We are delighted as board members to see that the staff always exceedes their yearly goals and they continue to surprise us with new ways that this community can be served.