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City of Mount Zion (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Addressing community health
└ Addressing community health
Rising food costs left many residents, especially older adults on fixed incomes, struggling to afford groceries and toiletries. In addition, pet food shortages forced families to give up pets. To address this, the city installed two blessing boxes, one for people and one for pets, and stocked them for the holidays. Older adults helped decorate the boxes, turning the project into a social event that eased isolation. The boxes now provide discreet access to essentials and have inspired local churches to add food pantries. "People were laughing and having conversations they would have never had the opportunity to do so," said a volunteer.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Grayson County, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Many residents of rural Grayson County lack internet access. To help them get information about the COVID-19 pandemic, Grayson County set up a phone hotline staffed by older adult volunteers. The service helped callers find out how to apply for financial assistance, where to find face masks or how to get help acquiring food or medicine. The County Emergency Services Coordinator trained the volunteers, ensuring they had accurate information during the pandemic's onset. Project organizers made sure the service was available 24 hours a day, with three shifts of volunteers available for calls and software to manage phone queues. The initiative's success spurred the Emergency Services Coordinator to commit funding to continue the helpline for future emergency situations.
Hayfork, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Thanks to new hygiene solutions -- including touchless water faucets and soap dispensers plexiglass dividers to protect staff and a touchless thermometer -- Hayfork was able to open its pool for the 2020 swim season despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Without the improvements, county public health mandates would have shuttered the pool, which is a multi-generational gathering place. Project organizers say the safety measures represented the community's high standard for pandemic response. Most of the hygiene measures remained in place at the pool for subsequent summers.
Heber Springs, AR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: An aging electrical system threatened food safety and posed a fire hazard at the county's largest free meal site. Frequent breaker failures risked spoiling food for older adults who rely on hot meals three times a week. The kitchen replaced the outdated breaker box and 24 breakers, relocating the system away from a wet area to meet safety codes. This upgrade ensures stable power for cooking and cold storage, protecting food supplies and allowing the kitchen to continue serving thousands of meals safely for years to come.
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Heflin, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Accessibility of amenities
Description: Uneven terrain and lack of ADA-compliant access made visiting the farmers market difficult for older adults and people with disabilities. The project installed new sidewalks linking the market to parking areas and paved the lot to include accessible spaces, creating safer entry points. Volunteers helped complete the work, and a ribbon-cutting marked the transformation. Visitors expressed gratitude, noting the improvements allow wheelchair users and others to enjoy fresh produce and social connections without navigating mud or uneven ground.
Newnan, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project set out to activate a neglected alleyway, which they christened Carnegie-Thompson Alley. The space connects to a planned trail system spanning downtown Newnan. To allow residents to gather in the space, project organizers purchased seating and lighting. Public art installations are planned for the site, as well as repaving to ensure accessibility.
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