(Photo courtesy of Ohio News Connection/Adobe Stock)

Nadia Ramlagan

A community of older residents in Alliance, Ohio, now has better access to fresh foods, thanks to funding to help local people convert a vacant space inside an old elementary school building into a full-service grocery store located next to senior high-rise apartments.

Tom Phillips, executive director of the nonprofit StarkFresh, said the region has felt the effects of decades of disinvestment. He emphasized being awarded an AARP Community Challenge grant has been a game changer for older residents living within walking distance of the grocery store.

“A lot of people have $18, $20 for the entire month on their SNAP EBT card,” Phillips pointed out. “Through our incentive programs, we’re able to stretch that, and basically double that or more depending on what they’re purchasing.”

Community Challenge grant applications are now open to eligible nonprofit organizations and local governments. The deadline to apply is March 6. Since 2017, AARP has funded 35 projects in Ohio.

Philips noted the AARP Community Challenge grant allowed his organization to close some of the gaps for needed equipment, such as freezers and shelving.

“It’s for the individuals who don’t have anywhere else to go and then come here right in their own neighborhood, get some food, It’s a really big deal,” Philips observed. “It’s a life changer for a lot of people.”

Feeding America found nearly 150,000 seniors in Ohio are unsure where they will get their next meal.