AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
Bayside Community Network Inc. (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Addressing community health
└ Addressing community health
Older adults and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Elkton face food insecurity and chronic health issues tied to poor nutrition. Bayside responded with "Growing Lunch," turning its greenhouse and kitchen into a garden-to-table program. Participants grew and harvested produce for daily meals, learned cooking skills and used new kitchen equipment to build independence. A refillable water station encouraged healthier habits. The project improved access to fresh food and created vocational training, laying the foundation for long-term health and employment opportunities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Boston, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Lower-income residents of Boston's Mattapan, Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods often lack access to fresh produce. To help residents grow their own vegetables, the Urban Farming Institute of Boston built and installed backyard grow boxes. The Institute provides one-on-one support to participating families, heling them learn about gardening and cooking techniques. They also host a virtual cooking show -- Destination Cuisine -- featuring local chefs and culturally relevant recipes to inspire residents to prepare healthy, delicious meals.
Providence, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Older adults in Providence often walked to food pantries, but heavy groceries and long outdoor waits made access difficult and undignified. The project distributed grocery carts to 175 guests and created an indoor waiting area with sturdy seating, easing transport of up to 30 pounds of food and providing comfort during high-volume visits. These changes removed a major barrier to food access, helped older adults remain independent. The pantries are now welcoming spaces that connect guests to additional health services.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Topeka, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Food insecurity and poor nutrition challenged older adults in Topeka. The organization built a temperature-controlled greenhouse and picnic area to provide fresh produce year-round and a space for social connection. Residents learned gardening techniques and shared crops, while volunteers installed benches and solar lighting. "Standing back and seeing the final product was rewarding," said a project lead. The greenhouse now supports cooking classes and partnerships with local gardens, creating long-term access to healthy food and education on nutrition.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Elkton, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public space improvements to support recovery after extreme weather events
Description: Bayside worked to protect older adults and adults with disabilities who faced serious risks during storms and outages, and who often lacked an emergency plan or access to a safe place to shelter. The project installed a generator to keep the Day Program building operational as an emergency shelter. It also offered CPR, First Aid and preparedness classes that improved understanding of disaster risks for participants and caregivers. Post-project surveys showed major gains in awareness and confidence, and training with first responders strengthened readiness across households. The generator and ongoing classes now provide a stable foundation for long-term resilience for those most vulnerable during severe weather.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Newark, DE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Trails
Description: At White Clay Creek State Park, even accessible trails could be hard to use without places to stop and rest. Long stretches without seating limited how far people with mobility challenges, including older adults, could comfortably walk and how long they could stay. Friends of White Clay Creek State Park addressed that gap by installing two ADA-compliant benches on concrete pads along accessible trails, spaced to allow regular pauses. The benches created safe, predictable resting points for trail users who need breaks or use mobility aids. Following the installation, the park saw increased trail use and appreciation from visitors who could now spend more time outdoors. The project also established a clear approach for future improvements, with plans to add similar benches in other parts of the park to further expand access.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Maryland State Office
200 St. Paul Place
Suite 2510
Baltimore, MD 21202
United States