Windham, CT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The project will create a community gardening program to help older adults grow food locally. It will enrich the design of a new green space at a senior center and will provide tools and weekly group sessions led by a master gardener.

Lawrence, KS

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project will enlarge a community garden next to an affordable housing community. Four raised beds will ensure accessibility for residents with disabilities, as well as for older volunteers. Excess produce will be donated to local food banks.

Seattle, WA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project spruced up the rooftop Pike Place Market Secret Garden, allowing volunteer gardeners to produce more fruits and vegetables there. All produce grown in the garden is provided to the Pike Market Food Bank, with nearly 500 fresh herbs and vegetables donated each year. In addition, the garden hosts intergenerational activities organized by a nearby assisted living facility, a childcare center and a preschool. The Pike Market Food Bank also received an AARP Community Challenge grant in 2019, which allowed it to install directional signage to help visitors find its hard-to-reach location. Established in 1982, the Pike Place Market Foundation aims to help low-income and unhoused Seattle residents who live in the neighborhood.