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Evansville, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Missing handrails or grab bars made routine movement at home unsafe for many older adults and in some cases kept them from leaving their houses. Community One addressed this risk through its Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program by installing handrails and grab bars in local homes and purchasing materials for future projects. Volunteer-led installations focused on practical fixes at entryways, stairs and bathrooms. One resident said that without a handrail, leaving her home felt dangerous, but after installation she felt relief and could move safely. The work reduced fall risk, supported aging in place and built a trained volunteer base for ongoing support.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Mooresburg, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Unsafe steps, leaking roofs and poor lighting left many older adults in Mooresburg at risk of falls and unable to age in place. Volunteers rebuilt porches and ramps with anti-slip features, repaired camper roofs and provided fire extinguishers and de-icing supplies to improve safety for residents and meal delivery volunteers. These changes made homes more accessible and reduced hazards, while opening lines of communication for future help. One visually impaired resident said she finally feels comfortable going outside after repeated falls, a change that restored her confidence and independence.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Rockledge, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Older adults in Rockledge faced trip hazards, poor lighting and hard-to-use fixtures, making daily life unsafe and independence difficult. Specialists assessed homes and completed modifications for 17 participants, installing grab bars, high-rise toilets, non-skid rugs and improved lighting. Outreach reached 68 residents and raised awareness of home safety. These changes helped older adults remain in their homes with confidence and spurred plans for a long-term program. One woman said her home feels "much safer" after upgrades like a deadbolt lock and task lighting, showing how small fixes can transform security and usability.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Greenville, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: As part of efforts to transform a vacant lot into a community garden, Greenville's Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church installed a new fence and hoop houses at the site. The hoop houses cover the beds and keep them warm, allowing gardeners to grow produce through the winter months. In addition, the church installed a sign to inform passersby about the Third and Spruce Community Garden. Since these improvements, project organizers made an agreement with a local food pantry to provide fresh produce to individuals and families facing food insecurity. During the 2021-2022 growing season, the garden produced about 900 pounds of fruits and vegetables. The Church also plans to hold gardening skills workshops and healthy food demonstrations for the community.
Greenville, MS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Concrete planter boxes will be added along a downtown sidewalk to create a buffer between pedestrians and traffic. The planters will improve walkability and help adults age 50-plus move more safely.
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