Adopt-A-Block Lakeland

10/06/2026

🤍 Our hearts are heavy as we remember our dear friend, Hector Gautier.

Hector first came to our Christ Lutheran Church Block Party as a neighbor. It wasn’t long before he saw a place where he could serve and simply stepped in. Week after week, Hector offered his gift as a translator, helping ensure that our Spanish-speaking neighbors could hear the church service, announcements, and everything happening around them in their own language.

But Hector was so much more than a Block Party volunteer.

He became an integral part of the family of believers at Christ Lutheran Church - a family the Lord has woven together, each person bringing their own gifts, to love and reach a neighborhood.

Hector's story is a beautiful picture of what we pray happens through Adopt-A-Block Lakeland: the lines between neighbor and volunteer, guest and family, becoming harder and harder to see. We come together, we serve one another, and somewhere along the way, we realize we belong to one another.

Hector belonged here.

We are deeply grateful that the Lord brought him into this family, and for every message he translated, every neighbor he helped welcome, and every week he stood alongside us in service.

Until we meet again, Hector. 🦢

09/28/2026

🌶️🏆 THE VOTES ARE IN!

Our 1st Annual Adopt-A-Block Lakeland Chili Cookoff is officially in the books - and our Neighbors have spoken! A huge congratulations to Crystal Lake United Methodist Church, our very first Chili Cookoff Champions! 🎉🏆

Legacy Christian Church, Christ Lutheran Church Lakeland, and Crystal Lake Methodist each brought their best to the table, and our Neighbors had the very difficult job of tasting the entries and casting their votes. (It’s a tough job, but somebody had to do it. 😂)
And while Crystal Lake gets the official bragging rights, this was one of those competitions where everybody won. Great food, a little friendly competition, lots of laughter, and three churches coming together with their Neighbors - that’s what Adopt-A-Block is all about.

🏆 Trophies will be awarded this week at Crystal Lake Methodist's Block Party. Stay tuned! 🦢

08/04/2026

🧡💙 National Night Out

For more than 40 years, communities across the nation have gathered on the first Tuesday in August to celebrate National Night Out - an annual event dedicated to strengthening relationships between neighbors, law enforcement, first responders, and community organizations. Its purpose is simple yet powerful: to remind us that safer, healthier neighborhoods are built through connection, trust, and knowing the people who live beside us.

For the second year in a row, Adopt-A-Block Lakeland was honored to be part of that tradition!

We were grateful to welcome Commissioner Stephanie Madden, Commissioner Terry Coney, LakelandPD, Lakeland Fire Rescue, BayCare, Aspire Insurance Solutions, and Borem Fire Protection, Inc. - all of whom joined in the festivities and helped make this day so special.

We’re also incredibly grateful for our Christ Lutheran Church family, whose countless hours of preparation and service make days like this possible. Your willingness to serve transforms events like these into opportunities for lasting relationships with Neighborhood Shareholders and a stronger community.

Last, but certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you to the Dream Center of Lakeland! Through their Kids Club program, they provided 20 fully stocked backpacks for our littlest neighbors as they prepare to head back to school.

Here’s to another year of serving our city! 🦢

04/17/2026

🛍 Lakelanders! Join us tonight for our first-ever Downtown Lakeland Pop-Up Mercantile!

At Adopt-A-Block Lakeland, we believe caring for our community includes caring for the people and places that make Lakeland home. Tonight, from 7:00pm-9:00pm, we’ll be set up outside Vampire Penguin Lakeland with a small FREE giveaway item for anyone and everyone who stops by!

No purchase is necessary. This is simply one small way we want to love on our city, support a local business, and bless our neighbors.

Come by and say hello! 🦢

04/06/2026

🤍 This is what it looks like when Neighbors become Family.

At our weekly Adopt-A-Block Lakeland Block Parties, we don’t just share meals and resources - we share moments that matter for Eternity.

This baptism is one of several we’ve had the honor of being a part of, and it never gets old. God is moving right in the middle of our neighborhoods.

Not a program.
Just people...meeting Jesus, together. 🦢

03/17/2026

🍀 A little St. Patty’s Day fun at the ballpark! ⚾️

Today, we had the pleasure of coming alongside our friends at Christ Lutheran Church during the Detroit Tigers Spring Training game as they hosted parking for fans in their lot. What many may not realize is that every car parked helps fuel local missions right here in our community. 🙌

So, in true Adopt-A-Block Lakeland fashion, we wanted to add a little extra joy to the day and surprised those who parked at CLC with festive St. Patrick’s Day apparel as a small way to say thank you for being part of something bigger!

This is what we love - neighbors supporting neighbors and small moments turning into meaningful impact! 🦢

12/02/2025

✨ This Giving Tuesday, we want to pause and thank each of you who responded to last month's Amazon Wishlist invitation for Block Party meal ingredients. Donations arrived from all across the United States to meet a tangible need right here in Lakeland - and we couldn’t be more grateful! 🦢

11/28/2025

🦃 Thankful for Our Friends at Lighthouse Ministries!

Feeding two large neighborhoods is no small task, but with incredible friends like Lighthouse Ministries and the tireless work of our amazing Café Team, it becomes something truly beautiful.

Thank you, Lighthouse, for your generous donation of 20 turkeys, which - together with the delicious sides provided by our phenomenal neighbors - became full Thanksgiving spreads for our
Christ Lutheran Church Lakeland and Legacy Christian Church communities.

Lakeland is truly blessed to have you! 🦢

11/25/2025

🤍 THANK YOU, LAKELAND CRUISERS! 🤍

We want to share our heartfelt appreciation for our incredible friends, the Lakeland Cruisers, for their unfailing generosity. Month after month, their donation drives pour directly into the work we’re doing at Adopt-A-Block Lakeland, and it’s creating meaningful change right here in our city.

Because of their consistency and heart for Lakeland, families are being supported and neighborhoods are being strengthened. We are truly grateful to partner with a group so committed to giving back to their community.

Thank you, Lakeland Cruisers! Here’s to continuing the mission - block by block! 🦢

Thank you to everyone that helped collect donations for Adopt A Block Lakeland. We greatly appreciate each and every one of you for helping us give back to those in need. We hope that everyone has a full and blessed Thanksgiving this upcoming week. Can’t wait to see what’s next and give back to our community! God Bless