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The RobinHood Group (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Low-income older adults in Union County faced food insecurity and limited access to fresh produce, especially those who were homebound or had disabilities. To address this, the organization distributed more than 400 bags of fresh produce and installed accessible raised garden beds and ADA-compliant garden boxes. The project also launched a community garden and partnered with local groups to expand outreach. Residents expressed appreciation, saying "this is such a blessing," and "the new garden gives me a place to go." Plans are underway to add gardens in all four municipalities to sustain and grow the effort.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Boston, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Wakullah Street Community Garden worked to remove access barriers that limited older adults from fully using a long-standing neighborhood garden. Uneven paths, limited seating and low lighting reduced safety and shortened visits, making it harder to gather and garden. The project cleared and reoriented pathways toward shared seating areas, added lighting and prepared the site for benches, internet access and a greenhouse. Older adults volunteered alongside neighbors to shape the upgrades and plan how the space should function. Early improvements increased participation and time spent in the garden, while planned additions position the space for longer hours and resident-led activities. The work supports safer access, stronger social connection and continued use of the garden as a shared community space.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Chesapeake, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Residents in a low-income Chesapeake neighborhood lacked access to fresh food and safe spaces for social engagement. The project created an accessible community garden at a local library with raised beds, adaptive tools, wheelchair-friendly seating and Mobi-mat paths. Volunteers hosted a "Golden Age Garden Party" featuring health screenings, cooking demonstrations and chair yoga. The garden now provides fresh produce and a welcoming space for older adults to gather and exercise. "I now have access to fresh vegetables in my own backyard," said one resident.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Fargo, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: ADA accessible raised garden beds will be installed at a local park so older adults and people with mobility challenges can participate in gardening. The project encourages visitors to be more involved in caring for the garden.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Rock Hill, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Garden classes for older adults were in high demand, but without an on-site space, participants lacked hands-on experience. The city transformed a courtyard into a pollinator garden by clearing invasive plants, preparing soil and installing beds, a bench and educational signage. Lifelong Learning participants helped plant and maintain the garden, which now enriches classes and fosters community engagement. One volunteer even signed up as a future instructor, showing how the project sparked new connections and expanded opportunities for experiential learning.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Rock Hill, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: The Housing Development Corporation addressed home safety risks that made it harder for older adults to remain in their homes as mobility needs changed. Limited access to small but critical modifications, such as bathroom supports and safe entryways, increased fall risk and daily strain. The project installed grab bars and transition mats in several homes, with volunteers assisting to ensure installations were safe and functional. The work also launched an "Aging in Place" program and established partnerships with local groups to help identify needs and extend outreach. One homeowner shared, "Now that I have the grab bar, it makes it much easier to get my husband and his wheelchair in and out of our home." These immediate improvements made daily tasks safer while creating a framework for ongoing home accessibility support beyond the initial installations.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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