AARP New York Awards 2026 Community Challenge Grant to Selfhelp Community Services

(Queens, NY) – Selfhelp Community Services announced today it has won an AARP Community Challenge grant to provide disaster preparedness training and leadership instruction for older adults living at Big Six Towers in Woodside, Queens.

The $2,500 grant will support Selfhelp’s Big 6 NORC Program in training older adult residents to become Emergency Management Volunteer Leaders who can help their neighbors prepare for emergencies. The project will engage residents across the seven high-rise buildings at Big Six Towers, where 826 adults aged 60 and older live, including 227 residents who live alone and may be especially vulnerable during disasters or other emergency events.

Marking the program’s 10th anniversary, the grant is part of AARP’s $8.3 million national commitment to fund 750 quick-action projects nationwide aimed at making communities more livable for people of all ages, especially older adults.

“Disaster preparedness is a critical part of helping older adults age safely and independently in the communities they call home,” said Stuart Kaplan, CEO of Selfhelp Community Services. “At Big Six Towers, where hundreds of older adults live across multiple high-rise buildings, this grant will help residents build the knowledge, confidence and neighbor-to-neighbor support needed before an emergency happens. We are grateful to AARP for recognizing the importance of preparing older New Yorkers and strengthening community resilience.”

Through the grant, Selfhelp’s Big 6 NORC Program will recruit two to three volunteer leaders from each of the seven buildings at Big Six Towers. These Emergency Management Volunteer Leaders will participate in train-the-trainer sessions and work with Selfhelp, Big Six Towers Management, Public Safety, SBP and AARP to organize outreach, education and preparedness activities for residents.

The project will include disaster preparedness training for older adults that will focus on increasing awareness of potential emergency events, encouraging advance planning, and helping residents understand how to prepare themselves and support neighbors who may need assistance.

The grant will also support educational materials, outreach flyers, refreshments for training sessions, and go-bag materials to help residents take practical steps toward emergency readiness. Selfhelp will work with resident volunteers, building management, public safety staff and community partners to continue disaster preparedness planning beyond the grant period.

“Communities across New York are eager for solutions that boost mobility, connection, and quality of life,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. “Thanks to Community Challenge grants, we’re empowering residents to make a sizable difference. This program helps local leaders turn practical ideas into action to create visible improvements to strengthen communities for all ages.”

The AARP Community Challenge supports quick-action projects that improve public spaces, transportation, housing, digital connectivity, disaster preparedness and other local priorities that help strengthen neighborhoods and improve social connection. Since 2017, AARP has awarded nearly $1 million through 87 Community Challenge grants supporting projects across New York.