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Youth Garden Project (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
Older adults in Moab wanted to volunteer in the community garden but faced discomfort with tasks like weeding. The project purchased kneeling mats, mobile benches and other tools to make gardening easier and hosted Weed n Feed events where volunteers worked together and shared meals. These changes opened the door for more older adults to participate, fostering social connections and encouraging physical activity. Organizers expect the improvements to help reduce isolation and keep volunteers coming back.
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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Wilton, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The library's garden lacked features that encouraged lingering and accessibility for older adults. Volunteers age 50-plus helped redesign the space, adding shade, comfortable seating and sensory elements to make it more inviting. These upgrades boosted traffic and interest in garden programs, and plans now include creating zones like pollinator and sensory areas with detailed signage. The garden has become a focal point for community events and ongoing programming, fostering engagement among older adults and other residents.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Chattanooga, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: To turn an unused space into a community asset, ELLA Library created raised beds that allow older adults to garden comfortably. A retiree led the effort, and monthly events brought neighbors together to share skills and grow produce. The project sparked long-term plans for food solidarity and education, including partnerships to expand growing areas and provide ongoing support. The initiative laid the foundation for a sustainable, intergenerational gardening program.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Rushville, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The project addressed the lack of an accessible outdoor space where older adults and other residents could garden, participate in group therapy or spend quiet time in nature. Many lived in apartments or assisted living and had no way to maintain a garden of their own. Raised and wheelchair-accessible beds created a welcoming place to grow food, build skills and contribute produce to a 24-hour pantry that helps residents on limited incomes. The garden strengthened social connection and encouraged regular visits, improving well-being through meaningful activity. One participant who used the accessible beds said, "It's been wonderful. I enjoyed it very much."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Southern Utah Navajo Reservation, UT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: To combat food insecurity on the Navajo Reservation, Adopt-A-Native-Elder provided food assistance and firewood vouchers to hundreds of Navajo elders. The cash assistance helped older adults access healthy, culturally appropriate food, as well as fuel for heating and cooking. During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navajo Nation recorded the highest per-capita rates of infection and fatalities in the U.S. To help keep older adults safe, the organization also delivered medical supply boxes, which included personal protective equipment, such as face masks.
Logan, UT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities
Description: Cache County is home to many migrants from Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, Myanmar and other nations. To serve this community, Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection launched its Neighbor Program, with matches refugee families with local U.S.-born families. The cross-cultural pairings help familiarize newcomers with local resources, as well as activities and restaurants. Most importantly, participants learned about each other's cultures and developed friendships. To reach more families, project organizers worked to translate information about the program into Spanish, Tigrinya, Somali, Karen and Arabic. To ensure safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants primarily met online, but facilitators also provided them with outdoor activity kits. During the winter holidays, they baked cookies to share with one another.
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