Two more community gardens organized by the Carter County Community Advisory Board (CAB) and executed by a number of community agencies were built Friday.

At the Elizabethton Senior Citizens Center and at Village Pediatrics, seven more gardens were finished  Friday by volunteers from Eastman Chemical Company, representatives from the City of Elizabethton and United Way.

Some of the beds at the Senior Center were built to be handicap accessible so that seniors with limited mobility can enjoy the new gardens.

Roan Mountain trustees built the frames Thursday, which Eastman volunteers finalized and filled with soil Friday. Down to Earth provided the soil at a discounted rate.

The work done at the Senior Center also included some landscaping and pressure washing as part of United Way’s Week of Caring. Community Impact Coordinator Josh McKinney said this is part of a long-standing partnership and that United Way is proud to share in a vision of community sustain ability with CAB.

“We believe there are ways to make an impact in the community beyond simply raising money,” said McKinney. “Ultimately, the vision behind this project is a single-site, large community garden in addition to these scattered sites.”

Garden project organizer Jilian Reece said seniors and WIC participants with the Carter County Health Department will maintain the Senior Center gardens, and BABE Breastfeeding Coalition members and Village Pediatrics patients will maintain and benefit from the beds at Village Pediatrics.

Community members are invited to sign up to help with garden maintenance throughout the summer at the garden kick-off celebration, set for Saturday, May 21.

Reece said community members will benefit greatly from the hard work of volunteers and from the contributions of area businesses and organizations. She also recognized Garrett Johnson with Elizabethton Parks and Recreation for overseeing the construction of the beds with the trustees.

The public is invited to the kick-off, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Covered Bridge Park, and the winners of the community garden naming competition will be announced at the event.