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Marysville, OH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options

Description: Older adults struggled to reach grocery stores and pharmacies because the community circulator ran only once a week. The project added a second weekly route, hired a licensed driver and enlisted volunteers to help riders with bags. The expanded service connected residents to stores, doctors and the Senior Center, giving them more flexibility and reducing isolation. Riders said the change "helped them feel more independent," and some visited the center for the first time, enjoying activities and socializing without worrying about transportation.

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

Washington, DC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options

Description: Many older adults with limited mobility struggle to reach affordable food, health services and social activities without reliable transportation. Seabury Resources for Aging expanded shuttle service focused on food access, offering regular group trips to community food markets and affordable grocery stores. The predictable rides allowed older adults to shop for foods they prefer while traveling with peers. Partner sites described the shuttle as essential, noting that these outings are the only way some older adults are able to leave their homes. By restoring routes and strengthening partnerships, the project reduced isolation and laid groundwork for sustained, older-adult-focused transportation that supports independence over time.

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

Des Moines, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options

Description: Older adults in central Iowa faced isolation and missed appointments because they lacked affordable, on-demand transportation. The project funded over 800 rides through a call-center program that let riders book ride-hailing trips without a smartphone. Trips included medical visits, grocery runs and social outings, helping participants stay connected and independent. One rider shared, "it makes us very happy to see each other!" after using the service to visit a lifelong friend in a care facility.

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

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Santa Rosa, CA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Low-income older adults in Sonoma County often lacked access to fresh produce, relying on shelf-stable foods. Farm to Pantry addressed this by building "Farm-acy" carts stocked with locally grown fruits and vegetables, health clinics and other high-need sites. Volunteers gleaned produce from farms and added recipe cards to encourage healthy meals. The carts now provide free, high-quality food in a dignified setting, reducing waste and improving nutrition. One recipient said, "I walk out of the clinic to this bright cart full of freshly-picked oranges... it was like it was meant for me personally."

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

Mendocino County, CA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Public space improvements to support recovery after extreme weather events

Description: Severe storms and wildfires often leave this rural coastal community without power for days, cutting off phone access during emergencies. To keep residents connected, volunteers distributed 70 solar-powered chargers with built-in lights and multi-device capability, working through the local adult center to reach those most at risk. Outreach included newspaper coverage and a planned radio interview to raise awareness. The project strengthened emergency preparedness for older adults and sparked plans to secure more units, reinforcing resilience in a region vulnerable to prolonged outages.

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

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