Hinton Rural Life Center (2017) Print

star-24px 2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee

Project Category

Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Access to health care services
Hinton Rural Life Center, located in the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina, serves as a religious retreat and conference center. It also provides firewood, gardening and home repair assistance and other services to rural residents. The Center trained two staffers in Mental Health First Aid, a program focused on intervention strategies for people experiencing a mental health crisis or developing mental health problems. After five days of instruction, the two officials then passed along their knowledge at a training with nearly 30 other community members. Today, the Center continues to offer training sessions in Mental Health First Aid to local organizations and churches.

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VNA at Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services Inc. (2024)

Keene, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Access to health care services

Description: Older adults managing chronic conditions often lacked tools to monitor their health, leading to ER visits and higher risk of illness. The project distributed blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters, scales and thermometers, paired with education to help participants understand and act on health metrics. These resources improved chronic care management and reduced emergency visits while building trust and health literacy. One patient shared that the devices helped him "track progress and manage conditions more effectively," giving him greater stability and confidence at home.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Pebble Ministry Inc. (2023)

Clarkesville, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Clarkesville lacked interactive outdoor spaces that encouraged movement and family bonding, especially for older adults. Pebble Ministry addressed this by creating a StoryWalk near the visitors center, installing posts and display cases for rotating books and adding signage with QR codes for feedback. The trail now draws readers of all ages, promoting exercise and social connection. Older adults report enjoying walks with friends and pets, and one visitor wrote, "A group of us...were out for a walk and were so pleased to see this."

Cherokee Historical Association (2025)

Cherokee, NC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Bike Audits

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ABOUT THE AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

Launched in 2017, the annual AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to local governments and nonprofits in order to fund quick-action, ready-to-implement projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages.

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