Charleston, WV

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Older adults relying on a local food pantry faced limited access to fresh produce, affecting nutrition and health. To address this, the organization created a community garden that supplies fruits and vegetables for pantry boxes and invites older adults to help grow them. Two Master Gardeners led the effort, mentoring younger volunteers and fostering intergenerational bonds. The garden now provides consistent access to fresh food and serves as a space for learning and connection. "It was a season filled with growth...in the hearts and minds of the young adults I had the opportunity to teach," said one gardener.

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

Portland, OR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: An overgrown, sloped area once blocked access and limited community connection. Kindness Farm transformed it into a vibrant garden with medicinal and edible plants, a covered deck and an ADA-accessible ramp. More than 180 volunteers helped create the space and joined over 50 workshops on topics from regenerative gardening to construction skills. The new area now hosts educational programs, art and music gatherings, and will provide fresh produce for donation for decades. As one volunteer shared, "The new community gardening and gathering space has brought so many community members together already... and will continue to allow for more learning opportunities and accessibility."

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

Silver Spring, MD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The first season of a new community garden revealed gaps in accessibility and education for older adults and neighbors. IMPACT Silver Spring responded by offering technical assistance and hosting gardening workshops, while volunteers widened an informal path to improve access. Partnerships with local agencies strengthened the effort, creating a space for learning and connection. Plans now include drip irrigation, a food forest and produce donations, with a goal to secure funding for permanent walkways and eventually hand stewardship to the community.

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