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Town of Windham Human Services (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Older adults in Windham had few chances for social engagement and healthy activities, leaving many isolated. The local center added raised garden beds and offered tools and weekly sessions led by a master gardener. This created an inviting space that drew new participants and expanded partnerships. The garden is now a hub for connection and learning, reducing isolation and promoting well-being. One participant said the leader's passion for organic cultivation "kindled my interest and active participation."
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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Lawrence, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Residents in an affordable housing community faced food insecurity and limited access to gardening. Home Works USA improved its garden by adding raised beds for accessibility, installing fencing to deter deer and hosting a free indoor farmers market for older adults and neighbors. Volunteers of all ages worked together, sharing skills and building relationships. The upgrades created a safer, more inviting space for intergenerational gardening and fresh food distribution. One volunteer commented that he and others were excited to finally get back to gardening again.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Potomac, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Older adults volunteering in HarvestShares donation garden faced physical strain from bending and lifting. At the same time, many people, including those over age 50-plus, struggled with food insecurity. The project added elevated beds, lightweight hoses, cooling fans and trellises to make gardening safer and more accessible. These upgrades boosted productivity and helped volunteers work comfortably even in extreme heat, resulting in over 1,000 pounds of fresh produce for a local pantry. One volunteer in her late 70s said elevated beds and lighter hoses made it possible for her to keep gardening weekly.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Vassalboro, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: In rural Vassalboro, older adults lacked spaces for outdoor activity and fresh food access. The town created four raised garden beds and installed two benches, with volunteers and a local nursery providing soil and plants. The gardens offer a place for older adults to garden, socialize and learn, with plans for expansion and multigenerational programs. One veteran who lives in an apartment said he that was happy to participate in the project because he has no place to garden, and was excited to help encourage other older adults.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Windham, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: The project aimed to transform a neglected downtown park into a welcoming space for social connection. Grant funds provided four ADA-compliant tables and benches, giving residents a place to gather and linger. The new seating quickly became popular, inspiring momentum for a full redesign. A landscape architect is now developing plans for a vibrant community hub, and residents are already using the space for picnics and informal gatherings instead of just passing through.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Hebron, CT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: The Town Center Project wanted to revitalize Hebron's village green and create the kind of downtown people want to visit. To do this, they invited residents to Take a Seat in a dozen hand-painted Adirondack chairs installed in the historic village center. Local artists entered a competition to design the seating, which volunteers assembled. Each wood-slatted chair has its own look, ranging from African-themed designs to an under-the-sea concept. The village stores over the winter to protect them from snow, bringing them out every spring for residents and visitors to enjoy.
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