Building communities of strength.
2025-2026 Grantees
This page highlights the impactful and innovative work to be accomplished by the upcoming cohort of Community Care Corps grantees.
Each snapshot includes a program overview highlighting key efforts, partners and future directions. Learn more about work of the Community Care Corps grantees and explore how your organization can implement its own innovative programs.
AgeSpan will develop a model to recruit and train former consumers as volunteers to increase capacity, including Spanish language capacity, in the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP). The FCSP provides support groups and other assistance to caregivers, acknowledging both the impact they make in the lives of their loved ones, and toll that this role can take on their own well-being. Our pilot will train and use 10-15 new volunteers to extend the reach, responsiveness, and impact of the FCSP.
The ALS Volunteer Program will provide people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers with robust support across the State of Oregon and Southwest Washington. We expect approximately 70 volunteers will fulfill “Caregiver Mentor” and “Helping Hands” volunteer roles with increased group opportunities and a focus on volunteer recruitment and retention. The outcome will be more families served with practical assistance and friendly companionship, fostering increased wellbeing among families facing ALS while saving them money, time and energy.
CaringMatters will support vulnerable adults 60+ who have difficulty living independently because of a serious illness. Trained volunteers will visit clients in their homes to provide companionship, shopping for essentials, light housekeeping; food preparation; respite care and connection to community resources. Caregivers of the home visited clients and other recruited family caregivers will participate in volunteer-facilitated in person or virtual support groups and/or one-on-one volunteer mentoring by former caregivers. Door-to-door transportation will ensure patients can receive medical care.
Catholic Charities Hawaii’s Transportation Friends for Kupuna (TFK) program serves as a lifeline for seniors who cannot obtain reliable transportation. In Hawaiian, “kupuna” means elder. This program focuses on seniors who have little or no family or support, or for whom the service provides respite for overtaxed caregivers. Without transportation and/or chaperone services, they often struggle to receive medical care, shop for essentials, or participate in social activities.
With this grant, TFK will provide a Going Home service for seniors having outpatient surgery and will target volunteer recruitment in rural areas where there is a significant need for additional services. TFK is an essential part of CCH’s goal to help seniors maintain their independent living status and avoid premature institutionalization.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany (CCDA) will expand non-medical volunteer assistance for 269 older adults and 49 adults (18-64) with disabilities, primarily with lower incomes, in six Upstate New York counties that are rural and thus have limited services and reduced opportunities. CCDA’s Aging Life Programs in Columbia and Otsego counties will expand into Delaware, Schoharie and Greene counties; in Herkimer County, CCDA’s RIDE and Hope Ministries will increase services. 109 retained or newly recruited volunteers will provide transportation, socialization, light housekeeping, yardwork and other duties to help those served age in place, alleviate social isolation, and provide relief to caregivers, and facilitate better quality of life for both.
Investment in Central Community House’s (CCH) Senior Village Central Program will add the needed capacity to build a robust volunteer program for seniors in the Near East of Columbus, Ohio. Volunteers will partner with seniors to meet needs related to aging comfortably and safely in-place, including: maintaining and improving housing, meeting basic needs, increasing socialization, and improving health and wellness. Success will be built upon CCH’s deep and relevant community knowledge; a unique ability to meet senior needs with personalized, holistic wraparound support; and a philosophy of neighbors helping neighbors.
PASSAGES Medical Chaperone Program seeks to provide support to older adults that are isolated, lonely and in need of transportation to medical appointments, the pharmacy and grocery store. The Medical Chaperone Program will build a network of screened and trained volunteer chaperones to accompany older adults and adults with disabilities to and from non-emergency medical appointments and outpatient procedures.
Volunteers will complete a thorough background check, participate in the Healthy Ideas curriculum training, and receive continuous support from the PASSAGES staff. The goal of the Medical Chaperone Program, along with the other PASSAGES programs, is to provide the support services needed for older adults to continue to live independently and remain healthy.
Individuals living with dementia and their families can face various challenges on their journey. Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative (PVCMI) was established to provide in-home caregiver support, education and community connections to help people living with dementia and their caregivers meet these challenges. Thanks to funding from the Community Care Corps, its innovative volunteer program provides opportunities for families to connect with a volunteer trained in dementia care to reduce isolation and improve quality of life for individuals and caregivers, which research shows can slow dementia’s impact. PVMCI will expand volunteer-based dementia support by outreaching to additional communities, organizations, and colleges across western Massachusetts to serve at least 150 people living with dementia and their caregivers, and 75 volunteers.
Duet: Partners In Health & Aging, in collaboration with Novle, is implementing a community-driven engagement model to expand the availability of critical support services for our full community of family caregivers, kinship caregivers, and homebound adults in Maricopa County. This initiative enhances volunteer recruitment efforts to increase assistance with respite care, mentoring, transportation and other services. By integrating community insights and expertise, Duet is fostering a sustainable, service-focused approach that ensures individuals across the community can connect with essential resources. The model emphasizes relevant, practical solutions that support family caregivers and older adults in maintaining their independence and well-being, ensuring no one is left without the needed vital assistance.
Elderbridge’s Volunteer Engagement program addresses the unmet needs of older adults, helping them maintain independence at home. Volunteers provide non-medical, direct services such as transportation, companionship, relocation assistance, and help with chores, errands, and respite care. They also support agency operations through fundraising, administrative tasks, and advisory roles.
With a nationwide healthcare worker shortage, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to receive essential services. Elderbridge volunteers bridge these gaps by offering social and emotional support, assistance with daily living activities, and participation in community initiatives like Santa for Seniors and CommUnity Kindness. Through these efforts, Elderbridge enhances the well-being of older adults, ensuring they receive the care and resources needed to age safely in place.
Faith in Action Georgetown provides free, door-through-door transportation for Georgetown residents aged 65+ who cannot afford a vehicle or can no longer drive due to health reasons. Faith in Action’s paid drivers and dedicated volunteers offer transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping, personal errands, and social engagements.
The Empowering Pathways to Independence (EPI) program, led by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at The University of Southern Mississippi, provides employment and independent living skills training for individuals with disabilities ages 21-40 in Forrest and Lamar counties. Using innovative volunteers, including USM undergraduate and graduate students and community members with disabilities, the program offers personalized, hands-on support through in-person and virtual services. Training covers resume building, job applications, financial literacy, self-advocacy, and workplace professionalism, as well as daily living skills like budgeting and transportation. By fostering independence and professional growth, EPI enhances participants’ confidence, employability, and community engagement, creating lasting, meaningful change in their lives.
Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia often face stress, limited respite options, and fragmented support. The Mindful Connections Neighborhood Hub, based at The J in Metro Detroit, is a pilot launching in February 2025 to create a dementia-friendly space for caregivers and their loved ones. It offers innovative solutions like Memory Café programming, respite services, and cognitive training. With the support of the Community Care Corps grant, the hub will expand its impact through volunteer-driven initiatives, including a caregiver advisory board, technology workshops, and reverse valet and way-finding services, to provide lasting, community-focused support for caregivers and their families.
North Star Council on Aging (NSCoA) volunteers primary focus areas will be Healthy Futures and Aging in Place. NSCoA serves as the sole agency in the region focused on helping seniors safely age in their community.
Strengthening the capacity of a volunteer program will have four primary goals: provide Respite to caregivers, strengthen volunteers’ impact with an aging population by providing wellness, informant and advocacy training, increase home chore service to aid in the “aging in place” movement, and network volunteers to increase transportation services for seniors. NSCoA believes it takes a village to care for an aging population, and we are proud to be part of the Community Care Corps effort to better our Alaskan Pioneers.
Region IV Area Agency on Aging’s Friendly Helper Program (FHP) is a volunteer-driven initiative in Southwest Michigan that addresses Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers. Volunteers provide nonmedical assistance, including transportation, companionship, meal preparation, and minor household tasks to promote independence and reduce social isolation. FHP also integrates emergency preparedness planning, ensuring participants have personalized safety strategies. Volunteers receive comprehensive training in person-centered care, trauma-informed support, and cultural humility. Using innovative technology, including Trualta for on-demand training and Mon Ami for volunteer matching and tracking, FHP makes services easier to obtain and promotes sustainability. This program fosters a stronger, more connected community by empowering volunteers to make a meaningful impact.
Operating since 1978, SAGE’s Friendly Visitor Program is the first of its kind in the nation, serving as a lifeline of intergenerational social support for isolated and homebound older adults in New York City. Through weekly contact, SAGE volunteers provide companionship, assist with daily tasks to foster independent living, and forge meaningful, nurturing relationships with older people.
Seniors in Service will provide Disaster Response and Preparedness Services for seniors aged 60+, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers who live alone or feel socially isolated in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco Counties. The goal is to decrease social isolation and increase reported ability to live independently. We will recruit and train 20 new Disaster Support volunteers to improve hurricane preparedness/recovery through social engagement. Adding disaster recovery and preparedness support all year long from people seniors trust will increase impact, empowering clients to accept support needed to live independently.
Somang Society will offer ‘Well Aging’ educational sessions, personalized care consultations, and recorded resources to older Korean American adults who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Our main targets are Korean American caregivers with limited English proficiency and those facing greater social challenges. The program’s goal is to increase caregivers’ knowledge, readiness, and confidence in their roles while enhancing older adults’ understanding and preparedness for independent living. Trained bilingual volunteers (40) and interns (10) will lead interactive sessions with hands-on exercises, guiding participants in creating a personalized ‘Well Aging’ care plan. By overcoming cultural and language barriers, these services will provide crucial resources and support to help older Korean American adults, and their caregivers achieve independent aging and a better quality of life.
Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) is the focal point in Cumberland and York counties for resources, services and information to empower older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to live to their fullest potential. SMAA’s Volunteer Respite Care Companion Pilot will match 30 trained/screened volunteers with 60 older adults who have difficulty living independently, and their family caregivers. In consistent, weekly visits, care recipients will enjoy connections with a new friend; caregivers will receive respite to improve their mental, emotional, physical, and financial health, and their ability keep continue supporting their loved ones at home.
The Trusted Ride Chaperone Program
With a solid commitment to the health of Baltimore City’s aging population, Ascension Saint Agnes offers its Trusted Ride Chaperone Program to help seniors safely get to medical appointments while also reducing the risk of fall or injury during the transportation process. It provides senior patients in need of assistance with a chaperone – someone who can greet them with a warm smile, help them in and out of their home, accompany them to a doctor’s appointment and then assure they get back home and settled in, safely.
The Care Transition Volunteer Program (CTVP) will provide adults 60+ transitioning from long-term care facilities with volunteer-based transportation, chore and companionship services. Services will be provided in Rio Arriba and Taos counties. CTVP expands and refines a successful pilot providing transportation services to older adults and will serve 33 new individuals with 17 volunteers. Expanding services and targeting those transitioning from long-term care will create a comprehensive support system which promotes aging in place. CTVP also seeks to develop a model of volunteer engagement with older adults that can be adapted by Tribes, Pueblos and Nations.
The University of Hawaiiʻs Center on Aging will provide a garden-based memory cafe for persons with dementia and their caregivers. The goal is to provide social engagement, support emotional well-being, and provide practical tips for both persons with dementia and their caregivers to support independent living. This garden-based memory cafe will provide emotional and practical support to participants and also drive student awareness and interest in careers in aging.
The model proposed for this grant is through both model refinement as well as expansion of current programs and services our organization offers. Through the generous funding from the Community Care Corps, VDSA will increase education and social wellness opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome ages eighteen and older; will continue and expand social connections among caregivers and increase caregiver capabilities in caring for an individual with Down syndrome; and to continue and expand respite programs across VDSA service areas.
