The BLOOM Center

Building Lives through Outreach and Occupational Ministry

About The BLOOM Center

At The BLOOM Center, we work to improve the lives of individuals with special abilities and developmental challenges using horticulture as our platform. We use the church's 9,000 square foot commercial greenhouse to enable our programs to operate rain or shine. Individuals learn to stay on task, work together, take instruction and see the results of their work. They plant and grow thousands of ornamental plants each year and sell them at annual plant sales. This program is 100% volunteer led and you do not have to be a church member to participate!

Work Training for Students with special needs

Students from local high schools come most mornings when schools are in session and learn vocational skills related to greenhouse work.

ENRICHMENT ADULTS WITH SPECIAL ABILITIES

Adults with special abilities come two days each week with a caregiver and complete tasks related to growing and caring for plants. They also take field trips to ball games and have parties and other events off-site.

floral gifts

Central Bearden’s members give our flowers to local home-bound individuals, and nursing home residents to brighten their space and their day. We plant and grow cut flower beds and donate these stems to "Random Acts of Flowers" each summer.

floral rescue squad

Many healthy but “unsellable” plants are donated to us and nursed back to health by our Rescue Squad team.

KNOX COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PROJECT/ THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE MAZE

The BLOOM is also an approved project of Knox County Master Gardeners, a program of the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener program. Master Gardeners provide plant knowledge and elbow grease to develop and maintain outside gardens at the entrance. These include a wheelchair-accessible therapeutic maze that is open to the public dawn to dusk, seven days a week, and inspirational stations to visit and reflect.

Click Here to Read and Reflect using the Maze Guide

Volunteer with the BLOOM Center

Looking to make a difference in someone’s life? Join us at The BLOOM Center! Give us 2 hours, 1 morning a week and you can help us provide vocational training in horticulture for individuals with special abilities.Looking for something more on your own schedule? Volunteer to help care for plants, manage supplies, social media, fundraising, and other administrative functions.