Munich, ND

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: This project will help a local nonprofit grocery store, which provides fresh, affordable food to local residents, to transition to self-service operations. This will enable individuals within the community to access groceries at almost any time.

Monticello, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: The library will purchase a mobile kitchen to host health and nutrition classes. Programming for adults will focus on making healthy, budget-conscious food choices while classes for children and teens will cover cooking and kitchen basics.

Flemington, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: The Harvest Family Success Center aimed to help older residents to improve and maintain their health through a better diet. As part of their efforts, the nonprofit established its Cooks Books program. Organizers set up a free, weekly outdoor produce market. Older adults in the community also received weekly wellness phone calls, which served as check-ins to assess their mental state and financial health. In addition, the Center created a library of health and wellness books. Since the initiative launched local businesses and community groups have stepped in to provide additional resources, including access to a dietician. In addition, project organizers report that during the COVID-19 pandemic the market and wellness check-ins helped older adults in the community avoid social isolation.