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Community Foodworks (2019) Print
2019 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Addressing community health
└ Addressing community health
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.
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Duluth, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Older adults in Duluth faced barriers to healthy food and social connection, especially in neighborhoods with few events and limited transit. To address this, the organization expanded its farmers markets by adding social zones with tables, games and art supplies, and completed two murals in areas lacking public art. Staff also took anti-age discrimination training and recruited older volunteers to lead activities. The project deepened engagement, improved food access and brightened community spaces. One visitor said, "The murals completely change the feeling of the park... really livens it up and matches the energy of the markets better."
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.
Caribou, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Caribou faced a hidden crisis of abuse of older adults, and volunteers were without tools to educate or intervene. The group built a multimedia toolkit with expert-backed content, video vignettes and safety features to guide prevention and reporting. The resource will be shared statewide and used in local programs, strengthening community capacity to protect older adults and empowering them to speak up and access help.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
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Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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