Vermont Business Magazine AARP Vermont has awarded Winter Placemaking Grants to eight organizations across the state to support creative, inclusive programming that fosters community connection and combats social isolation among older adults during the coldest months of the year.
This year’s recipients include:
- Adamant Community Club (Washington County) – $2,980
Hosting “Winter Sundays,” a series of eight gatherings featuring films, author readings, public affairs discussions, nature walks, and folk music concerts. - Broad Brook Community Center (Windham County) – $3,150
Expanding weekly coffee hours, adding free exercise classes, storytelling evenings, and intergenerational game nights. - Franklin Arts Department (Franklin County) – $1,200
Presenting six music performances in a repurposed community space to promote arts access and intergenerational engagement. - Middletown Springs Public Library (Rutland County) - $4,000
Launching “Winter Sparks,” a program offering storytelling, mandala painting, memoir writing, guided walks, and a winter chorus. - Morristown Centennial Library (Lamoille County) – $2,070
Expanding its Aging Together Program with weekly community meals and inclusive winter activities. - Rockingham Public Library (Windham County) – $4,000
Activating indoor and outdoor spaces with snowshoeing, birding, yoga, crafts, and cooking classes. - Town of West Rutland (Rutland County) – $2,500
Hosting a downtown Ice Carving Event featuring professional sculptors and accessible public art. - Montpelier Alive (Washington County) – $4,000
Organizing Winterfest with horse-drawn carriage rides and live ice carving to enliven downtown and engage older adults.
“These grants help communities across Vermont create welcoming spaces and meaningful experiences for older adults during the winter,” said Kelly Stoddard-Poor, Associate State Director of Outreach at AARP Vermont. “From music and meals to art and outdoor walks, these projects reflect the creativity and care that make Vermont a great place to age.”
The Winter Placemaking Grant program is part of AARP Vermont’s broader effort to support age-friendly communities and ensure that public spaces are accessible, engaging, and inclusive for people of all ages. Since 2020, AARP Vermont has awarded nearly $140,000 to 32 projects through the Winter Placemaking grant program for communities across the state.
From the Franklin Arts Department Application:
Snuggled right up against the Canadian Border, and not really "on the way" to anywhere, the town of Franklin is a small, tight-knit community. We have a General Store and library, an independent telephone company, senior housing, and an elementary school. There are no gas stations, no theaters, no coffee shops, no restaurants. Not even a creemee stand! When the winter weather arrives here, many people rely on the deli at the general store and meals on wheels for both food and socialization. If there isn't a commute to work, lots of us might not leave Franklin for weeks at a time. The cold weather and short daylight hours discourage many from seeking out entertainment in larger towns.
About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.
11.21.2025. BURLINGTON, VT — AARP Vermont
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