Emily Pickren

Wanda Dudley of Ward 8 was recently named one of the two winners of AARP’s nationwide Show Your Love Volunteer Contest! Ms. Wanda coordinates the registration, food distribution, and logistics for over 350 seniors each month at the United Planning Organization.

STAY DC is a financial assistance program for renters in DC to help cover housing and utility expenses. Residents must be able to show that they are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.

AARP announced the 2021 Community Challenge Grant winners. Grants were awarded to four local organizations in the District of Columbia that are implementing projects to benefit residents of all ages and backgrounds. Grant recipients include DC Greens, the DC Office of Planning, the George Washington University Center for Aging and Vida Senior Centers.

When the pandemic hit last year, AARP DC made it a priority to reach the District’s Hispanic/Latino community with accurate information. AARP DC reached out to El Tiempo Latino, the largest Spanish-language news outlet in the District of Columbia, and produced 5 Facebook Live events with them in summer 2020 that focused on Covid-19’s impact on the community. Guests included experts from the Legal Counsel for the Elderly, the Mayor’s Office of Latino Affairs and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

AARP fought for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a temporary $3.2 billion Federal Communications Commission program to help District of Columbia residents and all Americans access affordable, high-speed internet during the pandemic. Eligible households can apply now.

AARP DC is focusing its advocacy efforts on protecting and strengthening essential programs and services for residents 50-plus in the District of Columbia.

Experience Corps is now recruiting volunteer literacy tutors and mentors for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade in District of Columbia public and charter schools for the 2021-2022 school year. 

When the vaccine became available to District residents age 65 and older in January, Philip Pannell jumped at the chance to get the shot. He has seen firsthand the impact of Covid-19 on DC residents in Ward 8, where he lives. Ward 8 has the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in the District.

AARP DC volunteer Pamela McKee shares her story of making a vaccine appointment and receiving her first dose. She has also used her comfort and skill with technology to help several of neighbors and friends, some of whom do not have computers, to sign up for a vaccine appointment.

Named after AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, the Andrus Award honors outstanding individuals whose volunteer work has improved their community, supported AARP’s vision and mission, and inspired others.