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ConnectAbility of MN (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Access to health care services
└ Access to health care services
Older adults in Minnesota often struggle to access mobility equipment and inclusive activities, limiting independence and safety. To address this, ConnectAbility launched a mobile Donated Equipment Program by refurbishing a trailer and hosting pop-up events that distributed walkers, wheelchairs and other aids. Volunteers also built a raised accessible garden to showcase adaptive gardening solutions and assistive tools. The project expanded access, inspired similar home gardens and sparked requests for technology seminars. One participant said the mobile program "brought relief and peace of mind" after her mother finally received a walker, reducing fall risks and restoring independence.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Summerton, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Access to health care services
Description: Many lower-income families in Summerton struggled to access affordable health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project continued a multi-year effort to convert shipping containers into mobile health clinics. The Town of Summerton partnered with SC Community Uplift to launch the Cross My Heart Free Mobile Clinic. Staffed by volunteers from local medical offices, hospitals and nursing training programs, the initiative will offer screenings, vaccines and primary care services to local families and seasonal farm workers. Organizers say the project will also offer hands-on experience to student nurses.
King County, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Access to health care services
Description: Working in the Beacon Hill area of Seattle, International Community Health Services launched a multilingual educational campaign to increase the awareness of online telehealth services in underserved immigrant communities, chiefly the local Asian American Pacific Islander population. The organization credits the effort with helping to increase rates of telehealth visits, vaccinations and awareness about medical resources.
Sioux Falls, SD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Access to health care services
Description: Older adults in rural South Dakota often lack access to medical equipment, leaving many isolated and unable to recover safely. Owen's Outfitters, a free lending library, converted a donated wheelchair-accessible bus into a mobile unit with shelving and storage to deliver supplies statewide. Outreach has already doubled the number of clients served and boosted older adult participation. Partnerships with health agencies and retirement communities will help the service deliver heavy equipment directly to those who cannot travel, restoring independence for residents who need it most.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Princeton, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management
Description: Limited transportation choices left older adults and low-income residents with few options to stay active and connected. To address this, the city introduced an electric-assist surrey bike that accommodates multiple riders, making cycling easier for those with mobility challenges. The bike debuted at a Halloween event, where older adults and families tried it out and expressed excitement for summer rentals. This initiative promotes physical activity and social engagement while laying the groundwork for a community bike program that expands affordable transportation access.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Hutchinson, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Parents Inspired addressed a lack of reliable transportation that left many older adults struggling to reach medical care or stay socially connected. The group created an on-demand ride service that provided 364 trips, most within 25 miles, and added two donated vehicles so volunteers who preferred not to use their own cars could still drive. Riders could also request gender-specific drivers, helping meet personal comfort needs. The service supported access to routine and specialty care and laid groundwork for becoming a non-emergency medical transport provider. One rider's story showed its impact when a volunteer driver helped an older adult visit a loved one's grave, a trip that would have been difficult without support.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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