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Urban Farming Institute of Boston (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Community Health and Economic Empowerment
└ Addressing community health
└ Addressing community health
Lower-income residents of Boston's Mattapan, Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods often lack access to fresh produce. To help residents grow their own vegetables, the Urban Farming Institute of Boston built and installed backyard grow boxes. The Institute provides one-on-one support to participating families, heling them learn about gardening and cooking techniques. They also host a virtual cooking show -- Destination Cuisine -- featuring local chefs and culturally relevant recipes to inspire residents to prepare healthy, delicious meals.
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Santa Rosa, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: Low-income older adults in Sonoma County often lacked access to fresh produce, relying on shelf-stable foods. Farm to Pantry addressed this by building "Farm-acy" carts stocked with locally grown fruits and vegetables, health clinics and other high-need sites. Volunteers gleaned produce from farms and added recipe cards to encourage healthy meals. The carts now provide free, high-quality food in a dignified setting, reducing waste and improving nutrition. One recipient said, "I walk out of the clinic to this bright cart full of freshly-picked oranges... it was like it was meant for me personally."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Fontana, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: The City of Fontana wanted to motivate its residents to incorporate walking into their daily routines. To do this, the City launched its Fontana Walks program, with the goal of recording two billion steps taken by locals in a year, equaling roughly 1 million miles. Participants registered and received a pedometer and water bottle to help them get going. The City then held its inaugural community walk, which attracted with 100 participants, with hundreds more lacing up their shoes over the next few months. To keep the momentum going, the City created a website with tips and motivation for walkers. The City has continued to host monthly community walks, each featuring a theme.
Flemington, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: The Harvest Family Success Center aimed to help older residents to improve and maintain their health through a better diet. As part of their efforts, the nonprofit established its Cooks Books program. Organizers set up a free, weekly outdoor produce market. Older adults in the community also received weekly wellness phone calls, which served as check-ins to assess their mental state and financial health. In addition, the Center created a library of health and wellness books. Since the initiative launched local businesses and community groups have stepped in to provide additional resources, including access to a dietician. In addition, project organizers report that during the COVID-19 pandemic the market and wellness check-ins helped older adults in the community avoid social isolation.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Mattapan, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Transportation Other
Description: Adults age 50-plus will participate in workshops and walk audits to identify barriers to safe walking in their neighborhoods. The project will support resident-led recommendations for crossings, sidewalks and traffic calming.
Boston, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: WalkUP Roslindale focused on pedestrian safety issues in Roslindale Square that made everyday walking difficult for older adults and people using wheelchairs. Cracked sidewalks, missing or damaged curb ramps and short crossing times at busy intersections forced some residents into traffic to keep moving. The group led three walk audits that engaged more than 35 residents age 50 and over, documenting hazards along key routes. The audits prompted action by city departments, including temporary repairs to heaved sidewalks, fixes to curb cuts and added crossing time at a nearby intersection. One wheelchair user participated in all three audits and shared video of barriers that made a short trip unsafe, helping push repairs within weeks. The project elevated lived experience into ongoing transportation planning, ensuring pedestrian safety remains visible as longer term changes in the square move forward.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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