East Providence, RI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Older adults identified limited access to affordable, healthy food as an ongoing challenge, driven by transportation barriers and high rates of nutrition-related chronic illness. East Bay Community Action Program responded by creating an accessible community garden at the local Senior Center, where older adults helped shape what was grown and how the space was used. The project paired gardening with hands-on cooking demonstrations and a shared meal that used garden produce and prepared dishes. One participant wrote that they had started eating better and adding more vegetables to their diet. The garden also strengthened ties with schools and youth programs, supporting continued intergenerational involvement and establishing a lasting space for food access, learning and social connection.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Chesapeake, VA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Residents in a low-income Chesapeake neighborhood lacked access to fresh food and safe spaces for social engagement. The project created an accessible community garden at a local library with raised beds, adaptive tools, wheelchair-friendly seating and Mobi-mat paths. Volunteers hosted a "Golden Age Garden Party" featuring health screenings, cooking demonstrations and chair yoga. The garden now provides fresh produce and a welcoming space for older adults to gather and exercise. "I now have access to fresh vegetables in my own backyard," said one resident.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Cordova, AK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: An community greenhouse will be constructed with accessible beds and paths to support tribal Elders. The project will strengthen access to fresh food and social connections.