The Garden of Eden Senior Center has been certified by the State of North Carolina Division of Aging as a “Senior Center of Excellence.” This certification is evaluated using the Senior Center Operations Procedures and Evaluations (SCOPE) requirements by the State.
An onsite visit was conducted on June 23, 2025 by a panel consisting of the Area on Aging, Rockingham County Senior Tarheel Representative, several senior center directors from surrounding counties, and staff from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. A review of the center’s activities and documentation and programing during the last five years was evaluated and the center passed at the highest level.
This certification is valid for five years, from June 30, 2025, to June 29, 2030.
The Division of Aging commended the overall efforts of this small center in accomplishing so much, and they especially appreciated the director’s mentorship to other center directors.
Carla Huffman says that when she took the position as senior center director in 2008, the center had only been receiving $3,500 from the State. The State denied her requests until 2019 because the center lacked the required square footage to be eligible for certification. Huffman was persistent and in 2019, the Area on Aging agreed that if the center added a patio to be used for programing, they would allow the center to apply for certification.
In 2020, the Garden of Eden Senior Center earned the distinction “Senior Center of Merit” which allowed the center to receive additional funds. The center was able to receive $40,535 per year in additional funds. Becoming a “Center of Excellence” means the center will receive $54,877 in grant monies from the State.
These additional funds have allowed for the hiring of instructors and part-time help to operate the center. Under Huffman’s leadership, the center has built a community garden, a bocce court and two shuffleboard courts, and has added numerous programs like pickleball, cornhole, line dance, exercise classes, games, Spanish classes, piano classes, sewing classes, tech help classes, phone classes, and much more.
In 2010, the center began participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Volunteers trained by the IRS prepare and file taxes for approximately 500 individuals free of charge each year. The center recently received a grant from the IRS for $10,000 to provide this service.
When Huffman began her position at the Garden of Eden Senior Center, her goal was to make the center a bright spot in the neighborhood. She feels with the help of her dedicated staff, Mary Staley and Jennifer Taylor, and dependable volunteers such as Virginia Steele and Lynne Trivett, the center has accomplished that goal. In 2014, with the help of the KB Reynolds Foundation and community volunteers, a Kaboom playground, flower planters and new picnic tables were built. Senior center staff planted rose bushes, shade trees and flowers to make the center welcoming and attractive. Fencing around the building was recently relocated in order to provide more handicapped parking near the building. Senior center staff and volunteers painted pavers to build a colorful patio behind the center. Seniors from the art classes created paintings to decorate the fence and playground area. Senior center staff diligently pull weeds and do daily watering and yardwork along with the City’s maintenance crew to keep our center’s landscaping attractive.
“I absolutely love working at the Garden of Eden Senior Center,” Huffman said. “I enjoy offering programs to provide fun and enjoyment for people of all ages.”
Relationships are what makes our senior center special. It is not the building; it is the people inside. If you are 50 years or better, you are welcome to come join some activities offered by the center.
The Division of Aging commended the Garden of Eden Senior Center’s efforts to improve the quality of life for older adults and their families and congratulated The Garden of Eden Senior Center for achieving their highest level “Center of Excellence” distinction.
