Caribou, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: This project will create a digital toolkit to inform residents about elder abuse and engage them in its prevention, with the additional aim of sharing the toolkit with other Maine communities.

Beverly, MA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The Blooming in Beverly project installed raised garden beds in older adults' front yards. Beverly Main Streets matched 50 older adults with families with young children, who built and delivered the beds, then planted flowers and vegetables in them. Project organizers hoped to foster intergenerational relationships, helping combat social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative allowed young children to make a new friend as they helped with weekly watering. Older adult participants reported they were grateful to be around children, since many had not seen their own grandchildren since the pandemic began. The intergenerational pairings also allowed older adults to reap the benefits of gardening while avoiding hard, physical exertion.

Sheboygan, WI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Bikeability

Description: For years, city and county officials have worked to develop extensive network of bike and pedestrian paths in Sheboygan, along with an additional 20 miles of designated bike lanes on roads. To help cyclists make the most of the network, the City of Sheboygan installed five bike repair stations. Each station offers basic tools to keep bikes in good working shape. To support the local economy, the City purchased the stations from a nearby Wisconsin business. Organizers hope the stations increase trail use going forward.