The staff of the Madison County Senior Citizens Council and Madison Correctional Institution (MCI) have big plans for the new garden at the Senior Center. On the left side, pictured from front to back, are: Patricia McGhee, Nutrition Manager for the Madison County Senior Citizens Council; Lavercia Copeland, OAA Coordinator for MCI; Sergeant Eric Powell; Colonel Daryl Valentine; Sergeant David Floyd and Officer Steve Washington. On the right side, pictured from front to back, are: Mark Anderson, Classification Supervisor for MCI; Janice King, Data Entry for the Madison County Senior Citizens Council; Nancy Morral, Fiscal Officer of the Madison County Senior Citizens Council; Shelby Bearden, Assistant Warden for MCI; Major Opie Peavy; Rosa Richardson, Director of the Madison County Senior Citizens Council and Warden Robert E. Smith, Jr.
The Madison County Senior Citizens Council has some exciting plans underway that will benefit both the senior citizens at the Senior Center and within the community.
On Friday, March 11, Rosa Richardson, Director of the Madison County Senior Citizens Council and employees with the Madison Correctional Institution (MCI) finalized their agreement to bring an addition to the center: a garden. As a result, the operation took off and the beginning steps of forming the garden took place. Officer Steve Washington of MCI tilled the garden on Friday afternoon.
With the help of MCI, the individuals at the Senior Center will be able to have fresh vegetables straight out of the garden.
The Senior Center follows a very strict nutrition program in order to give senior citizens a healthy meal. By having a garden, the cost of food will be brought down a great deal and frozen vegetables will be a thing of the past. The senior citizens will also be able to find a new activity to do throughout the day by caring for the garden.
The extra vegetables will be given to home-bound senior citizens and any other senior citizens of Madison County who would benefit from the fresh produce.
As part of the agreement, MCI will provide the labor for the operation, planting, cultivating and harvesting the vegetables; the Senior Center will provide seed and fertilizer.
“We are so fortunate for the employees at the Correctional Institution,” said Richardson. “In my heart, I feel like they really care about our seniors. They're nice and helpful and like a family [to us].”
As of right now, the Senior Center and MCI are still in the works of planning what will be planted in the garden.