AARP Hearing Center
Shelving inside the food pantry; an awning and mural funded by the AARP Community Challenge.
Courtesy Anchor House
Every year, the residents of approximately 5,000 homes in Jackson County, Indiana, line up at the entrance to the Anchor House food pantry in Seymour for a twice-weekly distribution of groceries. The pantry operates with the help of more than 300 volunteers, most of whom are over age 50.
A third of the Jackson County residents who visit the food pantry are age 54 or older and many are primary caregivers for children under 18. Recipients line up outdoors for two hours or more without adequate protection from rain, extreme heat or bitter cold.
Anchor House received a 2022 AARP Community Challenge grant to build an extended awning, protecting people from the elements and allowing community agencies to set up information tables about support services and resources. Funds from AARP and other sources were also used to create and distribute 500 Spanish-language outreach cards; hire a local artist to paint a mural; and install security cameras.
The Results — and Reactions
“We have not had to call 911 for a medical emergency since the installation of this awning,” says Megan Cherry, Anchor House's executive director. “Prior to its installation, we had to call 911 several times due to people waiting in the summer heat and other elements.”
“The mural has been a great way to draw attention to our pantry as a resource for the community, enhance the aesthetics of our street location and add an extra personalization element to our business location,” she adds.
Advice for Replicating the Project
Keep it Local: “Resourcing from the community is especially important when choosing vendors or the people who are putting personal touches or artwork into the project,” says Cherry.
Related Links
Read About Another Project
Page published March 2025 | Reporting by Amy Lennard Goehner
