Heritage Towers Uses Community Grant Funding For Gardening and Patio Project

Non-profit organizations in Clearmont, Thermopolis, and Sheridan scored a total of four Community Challenge Grants totaling $31,000, AARP announced this fall.

The grants are part of AARP’s $4.2 million commitment to fund 383 quick-action projects aimed at making communities more livable for people of all ages, with a focus on the needs of older adults. The funds will support efforts to improve public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, and other key areas. Notably, 45% of this year’s funded projects are in rural communities, with nearly $2 million that will support 175 projects, marking AARP’s largest investment in rural grantmaking to date.

Heritage Towers of the Christian Church in Sheridan will use $4,500 to turn a largely-unused slab of concrete alongside their building into an area for socialization, planting flowers as well as vegetables in raised beds. The facility has partnered with Rooted in Wyoming to maximize vegetable harvest this year for residents. Heritage Towers also hopes to use grant funding to upgrade patio furniture for those who have mobility impairments. Heritage Towers is a section 8/202 building with 75 units largely devoted to senior housing.

“The goal is to increase socialization and encourage our seniors to spend time outdoors breathing in the fresh air,” said Tammy Yelton-Boone, with Heritage Towers. “There are a number of health benefits associated with spending time outside and we are hoping to create an area that encourages the seniors of Heritage Towers to spend more time outside this summer. The flower and vegetable gardens will be maintained by our Heritage Towers Garden Club, who will benefit from the fresh air, Vitamin D, physical activity and brain health gardening impacts.”