Washington, DC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Older adults volunteering in the community garden, growing fresh produce for donation, were increasingly limited by mobility challenges and summer heat, putting pressure on a program that depends on consistent hands-on work. Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild responded by upgrading the garden with raised beds, ergonomic tools, accessible seating and misting fans. These improvements reduced bending and strain, helped volunteers work safely in hot conditions and made it easier for people with limited mobility to plant, tend and harvest. The changes allowed older adults to remain active in the garden rather than step back from the work. The upgrades also made the space more welcoming to new volunteers, supporting steady production of fresh vegetables for food pantries and meal programs. By removing physical barriers, the project helped older adults continue contributing their time while expanding access to locally grown food.

Ketchikan, AK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: With the help of volunteer carpenters from the community, RSDS built six raised beds for vegetables and over 100 containers for flowering plants and two trees. Community members and RSDS participants maintain the beds. This intergenerational project included a local Baha'i children's group, who planted seeds in milk jugs for starter plants. The kids and older adults also planted native Haida potatoes together. Now, Rendezvous Senior Day Service's flowering garden is enjoyed by the whole community. "One of the residents decided to plant herbs for our kitchen" and RSDS staff member said. "His herb planters flourished and have provided fresh ingredients for our lunches."

Hudson, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Nashua has a large migrant population from Zambia, Burundi and Honduras, many of were farmers in their native counties. The ReGeerative Roots Association hoped to give them the opportunity to use their skills in their new home. The organization's ReGen Roots program, which provides free community garden plots to immigrant families. To give more families the opportunity to grow culturally familiar foods, this project expanded the garden's footprint by two acres. Participants can sell any extra produce, supplementing their household income. Additionally, community garden members donate ten percent of their peak harvest to two nonprofits that combat food insecurity in Nashua.