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Anchorage Volunteers Give Back

Marking Volunteer Appreciation Month with Anchorage's Volunteer Superstars

Teresa Holt,

AARP Alaska

Anchorage Community Action Team

AARP Alaska staff and volunteers

AARP volunteers in Anchorage are making the area a better place for Alaskans of all ages, with programs ranging from brain health presentations to outreach to caregivers and veterans. In an initiative spearheaded by former AARP Volunteer State President Madeline Holdorf, this volunteer team even took appreciation to the next level, working with the Anchorage Assembly to secure a citywide resolution honoring volunteers and recognizing the vital role they play in strengthening the community.

AARP Alaska staff and volunteers.

Among other efforts, these local volunteers are turning brain health education into a community conversation - and having fun doing it! Last year, Anchorage Community Action Team volunteers rolled up their sleeves to create a lively, easy-to-understand presentation on keeping your brain healthy as you age, taking it on the road to senior centers, libraries, assisted living homes, and health clinics throughout Anchorage.

AARP Alaska staff and volunteers.

These volunteers also help bring people together at Movies for Grownups events, where free movie tickets are paired with practical tips on issues important to older Alaskans, such as fraud prevention and resources for caregivers and veterans. In 2025, the group expanded its reach even further with a booth at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. There, they connected Alaska Native elders with AARP resources on brain health, fraud prevention, and more.

Anchorage Age-Friendly Volunteer Team

illustration of a woman giving a presentation at a podium

AARP Alaska staff and volunteers.

AARP Age‑Friendly volunteers in Anchorage have been busy turning ideas into action. Over the past year, they have made meaningful progress on key issues such as housing, transportation, food access, and civic engagement. The team proudly completed and shared their first‑year progress report with Mayor LaFrance’s office. They also showcased their work at an Age Smart dinner at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center, joining NeighborWorks Alaska to spotlight how Age‑Friendly efforts align with the ReConnecting Fairview initiative.

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In 2025, when the Fairview neighborhood lost its only grocery store, these volunteers turned a challenge into community action. They helped stock the Fairview Tiny Food Pantry with over 300 pounds of donated food, supported the rollout of a free weekend shuttle to grocery stores, and worked directly with residents to support transit changes that make it easier to get to the closest grocery store. It’s a powerful example of Alaskans helping Alaskans.

AARP Alaska staff and volunteers.

The Age-Friendly team showed up at the decision-making table, ensuring older Alaskans were part of the conversation. Led by volunteer Mary Dean Broussard, they actively engaged with ReConnecting Fairview, Vision Zero, the Alaska Active Transportation Coalition, the Seward‑to‑Glenn Connection Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) project, and other city planning efforts. They also took the Age‑Friendly story statewide, presenting alongside city staff at the Alaska Municipal League conference and inspiring several communities to join the Age‑Friendly Network.

With an eye on Anchorage’s future, the team partnered with Opticos Design to create a report that highlights the importance of Missing Middle Housing. Their work highlights why housing that is affordable, accessible for older adults, and close to services and grocery stores is essential.

Passionate about brain health as you age? Or making Anchorage a great place to grow older? Join AARP’s amazing volunteers and be part of the action—reach out to Patrick Curtis at pcurtis@aarp.org or 907‑268‑7919.