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Phoenix, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project created waist-high, raised-bed planters for the Society of St. Vincent De Paul's urban farm. Designed to hold up in the Arizona sun and heat, the raised beds sit at the farm's entrance. Project organizers also planted shade trees and installed benches to better serve the garden's older adult volunteers and people with disabilities. A new chalk board also helps remind garden volunteers about progress on day-to-day tasks. Project organizers report that since the upgrades, many older volunteers have renewed interest in working in the garden.
Madison Heights, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Love Garden at the Chinese Community Center is popular with Madison Heights residents. To make the space more accessible and welcoming, the Association of Chinese Americans expanded the garden with a greenhouse, gazebo and new benches. The greenhouse enables the organization to grow more plants and involve new community members, and serves as a service and storage area for the annual Healthy Gardening Fair. With its contemplative environment, the gazebo offers an inviting, safe gathering place for community members to gather for meditation, Tai-Chi and light exercise. Organizers hope the upgraded amenities help improve residents' physical and mental health.
Stoneham, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Boys Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield built an intergenerational community garden where older adults can mentor children from the clubs. They installed four garden beds, a rain barrel and a compost bin. They also provided to tools, soil, seeds and other supplies for use in the garden. Today, the Boys Girls Clubs hosts intergenerational programming at the garden, which allows older adults to teach children the value of gardening as a healthy outdoor activity.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Grand Rapids, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: The project will cover the expense of urgent repairs in mobile homes for older adults, including heating, plumbing and accessibility upgrades. This support will help residents avoid unsafe conditions and remain in stable, affordable housing.
Grand Rapids, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Disaster Preparedness
Description: Community leaders will be trained to deliver ongoing disaster preparedness education. Adults age 50 and older will receive planning tools and supplies.
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