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Kansas City, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: An underused community garden in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood limited access to fresh produce and social connection, especially for older adults. The association revitalized the space by rehabbing raised beds, restoring sheds and adding pollinator plants. It also hosted cleanup, games and planting events to draw neighbors together. New signage made the garden more inclusive, and a fall harvest festival boosted engagement. The garden now fosters intergenerational activity and reduces isolation, with plans for seasonal programs and volunteer partnerships. One older neighbor, intrigued by the improvements, said he was eager to use a raised bed despite his limited mobility.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Roanoke, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: To combat food insecurity, improve neighborhood safety and encourage residents to spend time outdoors, this project enhanced an existing community garden. Over several community work days volunteers installed raised beds, benches, a picnic table and portable toilet facilities. Organizers hope the improvements make the garden more accessible to people of all ages -- including older adults living in nearby apartment complexes.
Brevard, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Families lacked a shared space for growing food and learning healthy habits. The project expanded a community garden with a 50-by-50-foot section and engaged retired tutors and students in planting activities. Gardening became a therapeutic activity that strengthened relationships and encouraged intergenerational learning. The space now serves as a hub for wellness and education, with plans for classes, volunteer recruitment and partnerships to grow participation and promote healthy eating.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
East Lansing, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: An intergenerational program will pair trained volunteers with older adults to provide regular, personalized support using everyday digital tools. The sessions will strengthen skills for communication, health tasks and staying connected to community activities.
East Lansing, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Activities that address social isolation and facilitate community connections
Description: Michigan State University's AgeAlive initiative hosted free weekly, virtual lectures for more than 300 older adults. Speakers -- who included Michigan State professors and students -- shared their research on a range of topics, including social media, gene editing, gentrification and the transatlantic slave trade. In addition, the University purchased Virtual Senior Center subscriptions, which provide older adults with access to hundreds of lifelong learning classes. To combat social isolation, they also launched the Senior Ambassador Program, which matches students with older adults for weekly virtual social visits.
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