Mount Zion, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Rising food costs left many residents, especially older adults on fixed incomes, struggling to afford groceries and toiletries. In addition, pet food shortages forced families to give up pets. To address this, the city installed two blessing boxes, one for people and one for pets, and stocked them for the holidays. Older adults helped decorate the boxes, turning the project into a social event that eased isolation. The boxes now provide discreet access to essentials and have inspired local churches to add food pantries. "People were laughing and having conversations they would have never had the opportunity to do so," said a volunteer.

Heflin, AL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: Uneven terrain and lack of ADA-compliant access made visiting the farmers market difficult for older adults and people with disabilities. The project installed new sidewalks linking the market to parking areas and paved the lot to include accessible spaces, creating safer entry points. Volunteers helped complete the work, and a ribbon-cutting marked the transformation. Visitors expressed gratitude, noting the improvements allow wheelchair users and others to enjoy fresh produce and social connections without navigating mud or uneven ground.