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Charleston, WV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: This project assisted low-income older adults with home repairs and maintenance, allowing them to safely age in place in their homes. Faith in Action's Honey Do Crews preformed a variety of tasks for older adults in Kanawha and Putnam Counties, from changing lightbulbs to repainting porches. In total, grant funds supported 16 projects. One participant was living in a home with a flimsy, glass patio door installed where a proper front door should have been. To lock the door, she would insert a broom handle across the doorway. Faith in Action purchased a new door with a deadbolt and a volunteer installed it. "I feel like I've been released from prison," the homeowner said. "I love my new door."
Mount Vernon, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: To help older adults remain in their homes, the Mount Vernon Community Partnership Coalition created a tool library stocked with home repair and gardening tools. A subsequent grant allowed the tool library to move out of the town office's basement to an adjacent shed for ease of storage and tool accessibility. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the opening of the tool library, but once it did open, the gardening tools proved most popular. The Coalition recently relocated the shed and turned over tool library operations to the local Grange, which focuses on gardening and growing food. Adjacent communities also sought out the Coalition's experience to evaluate opening their own tool library.
Jacksonville, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Volunteers and partners will complete critical home repairs and landscape improvements for ten households. The service day will help residents remain safe and independent at home.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Lexington, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance repair and services
Description: EmmanuWheel set out to assist residents who relied on mobility devices but were effectively trapped in their homes due to unsafe entrances that made even short trips dangerous. The group built ten access ramps so people could leave home safely and rejoin activities they had avoided. Eighty five volunteers took part in the builds and new helpers joined through partner teams. With safe access restored, recipients can move more freely and participate in routines that support dignity and well being. The project also strengthened volunteer interest and there are plans to continue building ramps each year while partnering with others to reach more residents.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Columbia, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: A community garden featuring lighting, shaded seating and raised beds will be established to support caregivers and adults age 50-plus. The space will promote low‑impact physical activity, stress reduction and social connection.
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