Grants Help Boost Livability

When SNAP benefits were suddenly delayed during the recent government shutdown, a black minivan called the Empowerment Express came to the rescue for many older residents in Osceola County, Florida.

The van was used to deliver food to people who weren’t able to make it to a donation center or food bank. It’s one way the vehicle has served as a lifeline for residents aging in place, and it comes thanks to a $15,000 AARP Community Challenge grant to Black Empowerment and Community Council.

With the funding, the council — a nonprofit that helps residents in Osceola County access resources, information and hands-on support — outfitted a minivan that had been donated to the organization and transformed it into a mobile aging-in-place support system. It delivers Meals on Wheels, distributes laptops and provides computer literacy training and other support services to those in need.

“A lot of the feedback that we’ve gotten from the seniors is just that they love that they can count on us coming out,” says Tiffany Jeffers, council president and founder.

The Empowerment Express was funded through the AARP Community Challenge grant program, which funds quick-action projects for nonprofits, local governments and community groups to make neighborhoods more livable for people of all ages. In 2025, the program gave $4.2 million for 383 projects nationwide.

“These projects have turned great local ideas into real improvements that make everyday life better, especially for older Floridians,” says Jeff Johnson, AARP Florida state director.

Through regular contacts, the Empowerment Express allows the Black Empowerment and Community Council to help older adults who live on their own but may struggle to navigate available services. Says Jeffers: “It’s important for them to know someone is there for them.”

GRANTS FUEL COMMUNITY SPACES

In New Orleans, Louisiana, the Housing Authority of New Orleans used its $15,000 AARP Community Challenge grant to renovate a community center for older adults at The Estates, one of its public housing developments.

“Building spaces and resources for seniors as they reach their golden years is integral to the overall well-being of any community,” says Rose Jackson, the agency’s strategic initiatives and innovation analyst.

The funds will help transform the center into a space with a computer lab, a client services office and a room for healthy cooking demonstrations.

In the North Main area of Columbia, South Carolina, the NoMa STEAM nonprofit organization is turning gardening into a bridge between generations.

The organization’s Bridge of Hope Community Garden brings together older adults and youth to learn, grow and share.

LeConte’ Middleton, NoMa STEAM’s president, says they started the garden to try to bridge a gap between older and younger residents in the community.

“Our goal is really to help people to understand that you don’t have to necessarily pay an arm and a leg to eat healthier,” she says. “You can grow healthy foods right in your backyard, in a pot, in a container on your front porch.”

The $5,550 grant will help the group purchase technology to host virtual workshops and question-and-answer sessions. Teen gardeners will help older participants use digital platforms to join live or watch recorded sessions.