Indianapolis, IN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Staff at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana noticed that many food-insecure older adults had mobility challenges that prevented them from easily transporting their groceries. This forced many food pantry patrons to collect the amount of food they could carry rather than the amount they actually needed. To address this, the food bank purchased 54 shopping carts for agencies participating in its Senior Shopping Day program. To ensure the carts remained in the agencies' possession, Gleaners outfitted each one with a security tag. Project organizers say chronic hunger is particularly damaging for older adults, leaving them susceptible to chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. The new carts represent one way to customize hunger relief services for this population.

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.

Pine Ridge, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: On the Pine Ridge Reservation, families often travel 90 miles for fresh food, fueling health disparities. To address this, the Community Farmers Market expanded a food sovereignty program with garden plots, cooking demos and cultural education. Elders taught students traditional planting and food preparation, while events featured produce sales and spaces for socializing. The market improved access to nutritious food and strengthened intergenerational ties. Students gained farming and business skills, and elders shared cultural knowledge. One attendee said the program "provides a space for elders, parents and children to come together," fostering pride and self-sufficiency.