Salt Lake City, UT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Salt Lake City's Taylorsville neighborhood is home to refugee families from Syria, Myanmar and Afghanistan. Many new residents, however, struggle with social isolation. To help people feel connected, Salt Lake County created a community garden at the local senior center. Volunteers built four raised beds and the County provided ergonomic gardening equipment, seeds and starter plants. Project organizers say the opportunity to garden gives older adults -- who were often farmers and ranchers in their native countries -- a renewed sense of purpose. Gardening also allows them to form relationships with their neighbors.

Iola, KS

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project will provide raised garden beds, a greenhouse, a solar energy kit and a heater and fan to make a community garden more accessible to community members of all ages throughout more the year.

Gloucester, VA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project created a food pantry and vegetable garden at the clinic, affording patients better access to healthy foods.