One of the raised garden beds at Focused Care at Center with residents and Rotarians.
May 29, 2026 - The Rotary Club of Center has been working hard this spring to complete their 2025-2026 Rotary District 5910 Grant Project which focused on senior citizens in the community.
The project included designing and assembling raised garden beds that are wheelchair accessible for each of the three nursing homes in Shelby County with the facilities receiving two 10 ft x 2 ft raised beds. The purpose and hope of the project is to bring health benefits to those who use them.
Raised garden beds at Holiday Nursing Home with residents and Rotarians.
Health studies in the National Library of Medicine how positive aging benefits of home and community gardening activities. For older adults it can enhance self-esteem, productive endeavors, social engagement, and exercise. One study concluded that regardless of 'doing' gardening or simply 'being' in the garden, having contact with nature was key to attaining positive therapeutic benefits.
Raised garden beds at Pine Grove Nursing Home with residents and Rotarians.
An additional aspect of the Rotary Club of Center's grant plan included purchasing personal care items which were then donated to the Senior Nutrition Site located off Loop 500 in Center.
Rotarians delivered cleaning and personal care items to the Senior Nutrition Site for bingo prizes!
This is the fourth year the Center Rotary Club has participated in Rotary District 5910's grant program. The first year the club purchased and installed ADA and wheelchair accessible playground equipment at Portacool Park. The following year the club installed new carpet in the Redditt Room of the Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library and last year the club purchased books for all the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students in all of Shelby County.
Center's club has been a strong supporter of children in our community; however, this year the club was excited to focus its grant project on helping seniors in the county.
For more information about the Center Rotary Club, visit https://www.centertxrotary.com or on Facebook.
