Growing Food in Providence, Rhode Island

LOCATION: Providence, Rhode Island
GRANTEE: Southside Community Land Trust

Youth volunteers built accessible garden beds at the St. Martin de Porres Center, a senior services agency and facility, and assisted older adults in growing and harvesting healthy foods. “In many communities, fresh, healthy and affordable food is very hard to come by," says Margaret DeVos, executive director of the Southside Community Land Trust. "The gardening space and resources help people grow fresh and healthy food for themselves, their families and their neighbors, meal after meal, year after year.” Landscaping and seating has helped make for a restful shared space. As Raffini, the land trust's youth programs director, notes in the video below, elderly people who can't garden can look out of their windows and see some beauty. Those who can come to the garden "can sit among some beautiful flowers."

The AARP Community Challenge funds "quick-action" projects that build momentum for local change to improve livability for people of all ages.

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