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Springfield, IL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: A new online order system and optional curbside pickup at Springfield's Old Capitol Farmers Market reduced shoppers' risk of COVID-19 exposure. The improvements ensured that older adults and SNAP users could access fresh and healthy food from the popular market. Downtown Springfield Inc. replaced SNAP tokens with Healthy Ways scannable cards, which limit the need for physical contact at checkout. Following the change, the market saw an increase in SNAP transactions. In addition, more than 150 community members took advantage of the curbside option, which reduced in-person foot traffic and provided a safe shopping alternative to those most at risk.

Indianapolis, IN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Staff at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana noticed that many food-insecure older adults had mobility challenges that prevented them from easily transporting their groceries. This forced many food pantry patrons to collect the amount of food they could carry rather than the amount they actually needed. To address this, the food bank purchased 54 shopping carts for agencies participating in its Senior Shopping Day program. To ensure the carts remained in the agencies' possession, Gleaners outfitted each one with a security tag. Project organizers say chronic hunger is particularly damaging for older adults, leaving them susceptible to chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. The new carts represent one way to customize hunger relief services for this population.

Dora, AL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: The grant will bolster the mission's food giveaway program, which provides groceries to more than 1,000 local families, 80 percent of whom are older residents. The money will be used for needed items such as grocery carts and commercial-grade shelving to expand the warehouse's capacity

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Gaithersburg, MD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Digital navigation skills

Description: This project will provide older adults with one-on-one technology lessons. High school students will teach participants to complete online forms, access health portals and participate in telehealth appointments.

Germantown, MD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project will support a community garden's operations with workshops on harvesting produce and winterization, as well as community events to tend the space. The garden provides an accessible space for residents to grow fresh fruits and vegetables and address local food insecurity.

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