Unify Project students work to plant a garden at The Meeting Place.

Tryon Elementary School’s Unify Project students, under the supervision of teacher Lynn Lance and assistant Raegan Edwards, visited The Meeting Place Senior Center in Columbus to sow a few seeds in the Mobile Meals garden. On Tuesday, April 5, the students traveled to The Meeting Place to plant lettuce, kale, potatoes, carrots, and beets in the raised beds with the assistance of the seniors and volunteers.

The visit was a continuation of a partnership between the Unify Project and The Meeting Place. Earlier, volunteer Michael Doty joined the students at Tryon Elementary to start some seedlings which will later be transplanted in the garden at The Meeting Place. The children learned some garden basics which they were able to use on their first visit to the Mobile Meals garden.

Their work benefits the Mobile Meals Garden Project which has been developed to augment the quality and nutrition of meals served to the seniors through the home-delivered meals and on-site meals programs at the three Polk County senior centers in Columbus, Saluda, and Green Creek.

In addition to including fresh produce in meal preparation, the garden project will provide a surplus of vegetables to be given to participants to supplement their groceries as well as providing a “hands on” educational experience not only for the seniors, but also for the young people partnering with the senior center is this endeavor.

Senior center director, Pam Doty, said, “We consider the garden project an excellent venue for providing both nutritious, accessible fresh food and nutrition education. The benefits for the seniors and the rest of the community go beyond ‘just food.’ There are social, emotional, and mental health advantages imbedded in the project.”

The project is supported solely by contributions and volunteers like the Tryon Elementary students. For more information on contributing and volunteering, please contact The Meeting Place at 828-894-0001.

-Submitted by Pam Doty