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Trump will name more conservative judges. He may even pick a majority of the Supreme Court; Both sides react as Missouri reverses near-total abortion ban Literacy initiative to implement 250 new early-education activations in PA.

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President Biden asks Americans to turn down the temperature, House Speaker Mike Johnson promises an aggressive first 100 day agenda and Democratic governors vow to push back on Trump's plan for mass deportations.

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Texas women travel some of the longest distances for abortion care, Californians the shortest, rural living comes with mixed blessings for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

Community Challenge grants help nonprofits benefit MD seniors

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Monday, August 5, 2024   

A relatively small amount of money can go a long way toward helping seniors in Maryland and across the country live better lives.

AARP's Community Challenge grant program funds projects proposed by nonprofits and other community groups to inspire change and improve livability.

Jennifer Holz, associate state director of outreach for AARP Maryland, said five projects received Community Challenge grants this year, totaling almost $55,000. She pointed out the projects range from infrastructure improvements to community gardens, to broadband access.

"The AARP Community Challenge focuses on tangible installations, community engagement and quick-action timelines," Holz outlined. "To help grantees actually fast-track their ideas and replicate promising practices."

Projects include a community garden in a Germantown hospital, a safe park space for seniors in Fredrick, a CyberMasters program in Gaithersburg to teach digital communications skills to older learners, free solar-power Wi-Fi and charging stations for a senior home in Baltimore, and a HarvestShare program in Potomac to help seniors raise fresh produce.

At the national level, AARP has operated the Community Challenge Program since 2017 as a part of its Livable Communities initiative. Over the past eight years, AARP has invested just over $20 million in these projects, with more than 1,700 grants to make communities more livable, for people of all ages. Holz noted 2024 was the biggest year yet.

"We're now in our eighth year," Holz explained. "AARP is announcing the largest number of Community Challenge grants to date, and awarding more than $3.8 million among 343 grantees, across all 50 states."

Holz added the grant program would not work without the imagination and innovation of groups seeking to improve their communities.

"We've seen some really, really great projects that have actually inspired long-term change," Holz observed. "Because they've been able to pilot some of the things that they've been trying to do in terms of expansion at their nonprofit or their agency."

Disclosure: AARP Maryland contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, Energy Policy, Health Issues, and Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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