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Mosier, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Following a 2016 oil train derailment and fire that shook their small town, Mosier residents transformed loss into renewal by creating a new community center with a commercial kitchen at its core. The City purchased and installed key equipment to prepare meals for older adults, run a food pantry and help entrepreneurs develop local food products. Volunteers, including older adults and retired chefs, guided the design to meet community needs. A former mayor described the kitchen as "the heart and soul of the new Mosier Center," a place that will bring people together over shared meals while strengthening local health and opportunity.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Princeton, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: In rural Illinois, thousands face food insecurity and limited access to books and art. Community A-to-Z responded by installing 26 Little Free Libraries, Pantries and Art Galleries across Bureau and neighboring counties, including local community centers and food pantries. Nearly half of volunteers were age 50-plus, and building days drew more than 100 visitors, sparking additional installations beyond this project. Older adults now use the libraries as destinations for walks and bike rides, forming new connections and reducing loneliness. With plans to grow to 4,050 units, the project created a lasting network that strengthens literacy and community ties.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Denver, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: There is no shortage of underutilized urban land in Jefferson, Denver and Boulder Counties and no shortage of residents in need of fresh fruits and vegetables. Established by a group of farmers, researchers, teachers, business leaders and activists, Sprout City Farms works to increase food access and community resiliency by farming unused plots within the region. This project jumpstarted monthly workshops designed to connect residents with the local food system, along with virtual events to introduce people to Sprout City's community farming model. Additionally, the organization provided fresh produce to community members through its pay-what-you-can farm stands. The nonprofit also donated its harvest to the OUR Center in Longmont, with supplied 300 households with fruit and vegetables each week. To reach residents in their neighborhoods, Sprout City's e-bicycle-powered Sprout 'n About veggie mobiles made deliveries of fresh produce.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Portland, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: This pilot program taught Chinese-speaking elders to use smartphones to access information about bus schedules, routes and fares. APANO held three hands-on workshops in the Jade District, one of the most diverse areas of Portland. The neighborhood is home to the city's busiest bus route, which serves a housing complex for older adults. APANO navigators worked with youth leaders fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese to teach participants to use the local transit agency's TriMet app, as well as Google Maps. Workshop organizers hoped to reach 50 participants but the first training alone welcomed more than 70 people. Organizers also led practice trips to locations important to workshop participants. APANO reports that building confidence in public transit helped stave off food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as older adults were able to travel by bus to obtain culturally specific grocery staples.
Portland, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Unsafe housing and costly repairs threatened older adults' ability to age in place in Portland. REACH's Community Builders Program stepped in to complete major fixes, from replacing sewage pipes and restoring bathroom access to installing an ADA-height toilet and repairing roofs. Volunteers and subcontractors also cleared gutters and improved kitchen safety. These repairs eased financial strain and created healthier homes. "Your help allows us to continue to live independently," said one homeowner, reflecting the program's impact on stability and quality of life.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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