Scarborough, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Older adults in Scarborough face challenges staying active and managing heating costs on fixed incomes. Project GRACE expanded three community gardens, adding 15 new beds and growing over 800 pounds of produce for local food pantries. It also hosted a "Snug It Up" workshop for 75 older adults, offering weatherization tips, free DIY supplies and emergency fuel assistance for dozens of households. The gardens fostered social engagement and healthy eating, while the workshop helped residents prepare for winter. "I applaud the essential work... that helps our community to stay comfortably warm and snugged up this winter," one attendee wrote.

Scarborough, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services

Description: In Scarborough, Maine, many older adults in low-income homes faced drafty conditions and high heating costs, leaving them vulnerable during harsh winters. The project distributed DIY weatherization kits and hosted Snug It Up workshops where volunteers offered one-on-one tutorials. Residents learned to use window films and tapes for the first time and discovered state energy efficiency resources for long-term savings. Immediate results included warmer rooms and lower bills, while plans for multilingual workshops aim to reach immigrant households and new housing communities for older adults.