Ithaca, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Disaster Preparedness

Description: Many older adults lacked clear guidance on how to prepare for emergencies. Love Living at Home offered six trainings in community sites and online, reaching nearly 300 people with step-by-step instruction and materials like checklists and backpacks. Participants later installed alarms, purchased extinguishers and organized emergency kits. The program strengthened ties with county partners and increased awareness of future trainings. One attendee said the presentations were "very informative and helpful...thank you for making this very important training available!"

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

Brevard, NC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Disaster Preparedness

Description: After Hurricane Helene, many residents, including older adults, continued to experience emotional strain while also recognizing how unprepared they had been for the disaster. Recovery efforts largely focused on physical damage, leaving fewer opportunities to address grief, anniversary reactions and survivor guilt. City of Brevard hosted in-person workshops that combined hands-on disaster preparedness with guided conversations about emotional recovery. Participants received starter emergency kits and clear checklists while learning how emotional health connects to preparedness. A documentary film captured local voices and lessons from the storm, extending the reach of the workshops. Many participants reported plans to assemble go-bags and organize documents, and the film is now being reused as a training resource to support longer-term community resilience.

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

Bushnell, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026

Project Category: Disaster Preparedness

Description: Disaster preparedness training will focus on older veterans in rural communities. Participants will receive radios and kits that improve access to emergency alerts.