AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
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.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Dora, AL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: The grant will bolster the mission's food giveaway program, which provides groceries to more than 1,000 local families, 80 percent of whom are older residents. The money will be used for needed items such as grocery carts and commercial-grade shelving to expand the warehouse's capacity
Caribou, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: This project will create a digital toolkit to inform residents about elder abuse and engage them in its prevention, with the additional aim of sharing the toolkit with other Maine communities.
Memphis, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: To combat food insecurity and increase opportunities for socialization, this project created The Exodus Marketplace. The space now hosts a monthly farmers market, a book club and more.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Digital Connectivity Disaster Response
Description: Thrive DC addressed the loss of computer access for older adults experiencing homelessness after the local library closed. The organization launched a supervised lab with five computers and offered digital literacy sessions four days a week, helping participants learn email, internet navigation, and how to manage health care and benefits online. As needs grew, the lab became part of a broader day program that offered stability and a safe place to complete essential tasks. Many older adults gained confidence and independence. One participant used the lab to edit a photograph he had taken, proudly sharing the final image with others and reconnecting with his creative interests.
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: This project will launch a community walkability and safety initiative to assess and improve pedestrian infrastructure. It aims to enhance mobility by identifying needed sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP District of Columbia State Office
100 M Street SE
Suite 650
Washington, DC 20003
United States