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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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Memphis, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: In Memphis's Raleigh neighborhood, where grocery stores are scarce and isolation is common among older adults, For The Kingdom created the "Exodus Marketplace" to restore access to healthy food and connection. The initiative offered free dinners to 250 people weekly, hosted fitness and cooking classes, and opened a micro grocery store with fresh produce. Volunteers helped spread the word and serve meals, creating a steady rhythm of activity and care. One participant said, "Being able to come shop has provided a sense of dignity." The project turned a food desert into a place of community, health and hope for local residents.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Springfield, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: A new online order system and optional curbside pickup at Springfield's Old Capitol Farmers Market reduced shoppers' risk of COVID-19 exposure. The improvements ensured that older adults and SNAP users could access fresh and healthy food from the popular market. Downtown Springfield Inc. replaced SNAP tokens with Healthy Ways scannable cards, which limit the need for physical contact at checkout. Following the change, the market saw an increase in SNAP transactions. In addition, more than 150 community members took advantage of the curbside option, which reduced in-person foot traffic and provided a safe shopping alternative to those most at risk.
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.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
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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