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Lifecycle Building Center (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Using donated recycled and salvaged lumber, the Lifecycle Building Center built 14 Little Free Pantries and 10 garden beds. The Center used the fabrication work to demonstrate how the construction industry can help strengthen communities by prioritizing the reuse of materials. Mounted at chest height for easy access and placed in public areas, the pantries allow community members experiencing food insecurity to collect items as needed. Local nonprofit Friends of Refugees stocked the pantries with 1,000 pounds of food. The raised-bed planters went to the homes of refugee gardeners.
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Richmond, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Greater Richmond Age Wave Coalition hoped to beautify the Green Park neighborhood and foster relationships between neighbors. To do this, the nonprofit worked to provide community gardening opportunities to residents. To allow older adults to grow produce at home, the nonprofit built 25 garden boxes. Additionally, they created an outdoor courtyard space with raised garden beds at Highland Park Apartments. The Coalition hired local youth to construct and deliver the self-water boxes. The Coalition also held two community gardening events. To help people participate, they offset a portion of public transportation fares for attendees. The Age Wave Coalition's gardening efforts operate under the talent-sharing model, which connects experienced gardeners with people interested learning more about growing fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs.
Oakland, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: During the COVID-19 pandemic, community gardens became critical, allowing residents of Oakland and the East Bay to meet and connect with neighbors and grow healthy food. However, many community gardens lacked amenities that made them accessible for people of all ages. To close this gap, Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley added needed amenities for gardens throughout the region. By installing three picnic tables, four tool sheds, five Adirondack chairs, ten garden benches and more 30 garden stools, Habitat for Humanity was able to revitalize well-loved gardens and ensure more residents could access fresh produce locally.
St. Petersburg, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project will make a community garden accessible by constructing benches, an awning and raised beds for growing healthy, free food. The Housing Authority will also hold workshops on sustainable gardening, cooking and budgeting skills.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Atlanta, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Resources about housing options, safety and services
Description: To help residents stay in their neighborhood following construction of the Atlanta Beltline bike and pedestrian trail, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership hired resource coordinators. The coordinators work to inform longtime residents about the organization's Legacy Resident Retention Program, which provides financial assistance to cover property tax increases. The efforts ensure low- and moderate-income families aren't displaced, enabling intergenerational wealth building and allowing them to take advantage of the BeltLine.
Atlanta, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition -- now called Propel Atlanta -- highlighted safety through temporary changes to a dangerous street. Through the years, Cascade Avenue has been the site of many accidents involving pedestrians. Project organizers increased the visibility of the street's crosswalks by adding splashes of color. They also deployed cones to make a wide lane narrower, demonstrating how street design can reduce driver speeds and increase pedestrian safety.
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