Union County Extension Master Gardeners are once again bringing holiday cheer to senior residents through their annual community service initiative, affectionately known as “Making of the Greens.” The project, launched in 2024, was inspired by a Master Gardener, Floy Hamilton, who had participated in a similar effort in Pender County. Seeing the potential to brighten the holidays for local seniors, the group partnered with the Union County Senior Nutrition program to deliver handmade miniature evergreen arrangements to clients across four Senior Nutrition congregate sites and those who receive home-delivered meals.

“This project shows what happens when caring hands and community come together, hundreds of tiny evergreen arrangements carrying a message of warmth to every Senior Nutrition site and homebound client,” said Debbie Dillion, Horticulture Extension Agent.

Last year, volunteers crafted and delivered approximately 300 arrangements, ensuring that both homebound clients and those who eat in person at the four nutrition sites received a festive decoration to take home. Master Gardeners gather much of the greenery from their personal gardens, family properties, and the Agricultural Center campus. The Extension Master Gardeners program covers the remaining material costs.

To prepare for this year’s effort, volunteers held two work sessions to preassemble tiny ornaments and bows, streamlining the final assembly process. On assembly day, Extension Master Gardeners gather in the Extension Classroom to build the evergreen arrangements together, enjoying fellowship and camaraderie as they work. After completing the arrangements, staff delivered 300 arrangements to the Nutrition Feeding Sites, where they shared them with in-person participants and sent them out with meal-delivery volunteers to brighten the homes of seniors across the County.


Extension Master Gardeners gather for the “Making of the Greens” project to spread holiday cheer throughout the community.