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City of Myrtle Beach (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Addressing community health
└ Addressing community health
Using public art, the City of Myrtle Beach set out to spread the word about safe walking and biking, as well as COVID-19 public health protocols. To do this, the City hosted a competition for local artists of all ages, inviting them to submit designs with a safety theme. They then selected 10 winning designs and added text with safety messages to them. With the state Department of Transportation's blessing, the designs became colorful, vinyl wraps for traffic utility boxes at intersections around town. Organizers say the project demonstrated the value of public art, with residents and business owners looking for ways to replicate the results in other neighborhoods.
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Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Community Foodworks, a farmers market advocacy group, wanted to make the outdoor market experience more palatable and accessible for older adults. Farmers markets provide social connectedness for older adults, as well as an opportunity to access healthy, local food. CFW's markets also provide matching dollars and vouchers to locals receiving federal nutrition assistance, but recipients must wait in line for this assistance. Older adults often have trouble standing for long periods in line, especially in inclement weather. To increase market visitors' comfort, CFW created Rest Rehydration stations at three markets, which included shade tents, tables, seating, water and music.
Fairbanks, AK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Older adults who once grew large gardens for a local food program could no longer manage the work, reducing fresh produce for patients in the Food Is Medicine initiative. The Plant a Pot project supplied pots, soil and plants to 115 people, with volunteers helping them grow vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. Harvests supported the program and revived a sense of purpose for participants. Local service clubs also gained new energy and became more sustainable, with one member saying that the effort improved connections and generated stories of success.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Dora, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Inflation and the end of pandemic SNAP benefits left many older adults struggling to afford food, with demand for assistance soaring. Mission of Hope responded by distributing groceries to over 5,000 people and purchasing steel carts to help volunteers move supplies efficiently. About 100 volunteers were trained to pack and deliver food, easing strain and speeding service. For homebound clients, weekly deliveries brought more than meals-one wrote, "These red bags of goodies sure can cheer a fellow up... It's just like Christmas."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Lake City, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: The City of Lake City addressed a lack of safe, accessible places for residents to walk and exercise downtown, a gap that limited no-cost options for physical activity for older adults. Damaged sidewalks and unclear routes discouraged regular outdoor movement and made walking less comfortable. The city repaired sidewalks and created a clearly defined downtown walking trail, supported by trailhead signage and sidewalk decals developed with local partners. Health and recreation organizations helped connect the trail to programs that encourage routine use, including walking as part of personal wellness plans. Older adults now have a safer, more inviting route for daily walking close to other community resources. The trail is positioned as a lasting asset that supports ongoing health efforts and provides a foundation for future improvements.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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