When members of the Healthy Aging Club learned of a situation negatively affecting vulnerable older adults, they quickly stepped in to help solve it. 

In spring 2024, the club welcomed a few special guests to its biweekly club meetings. Members from the Transportation Committee at Samaritan Village – a housing community for lower-income adults age 62+ – came to the club with a request. Their activity bus recently crashed, and they needed funding to buy a new one since residents were left without a means of transportation for social outings such as visits to farmers markets, attending concerts and exploring the Oregon coast, which are important for older adults’ well-being. 

United by their passion for serving older adults in the Corvallis community, club members jumped in to help.

After connecting with Joe Heaney, chairman of the Samaritan Village Board, and with help from their faculty advisor, Professor Carolyn Aldwin, the club decided they could best help by learning the grant writing process – hoping to help secure funding for the thousands of dollars required to furnish a new bus. Club members learned how to comb through the internet to find possible funding opportunities, and how to convey an effective story. They also attended a grant writing workshop at the Spirit Mountain Community Fund and were excited to find that Samaritan Village was eligible to apply. 

Throughout the spring term, members of the club, including Camryn Lau, Julie Louangchoumphonh, Sydney Potter and Brianna Rostel, worked closely with Joe to complete a grant proposal for the Spirit Mountain Community Fund with a request for over $60,000, enough to cover half the cost of the new bus. Unfortunately, the proposal was not selected to receive funding. Although disappointed, club members learned another key truth about grant writing – there are lots of projects needing funding but not enough money to fund them. However, this grant provided a template for Samaritan Village to apply to a number of other local organizations. 

In fall 2024, good news arrived! Through generous donations from institutions such as the Good Samaritan Church, the Pacific Power Foundation, and the OSU Thrift Shop, Samaritan Village received enough funding, $65,000+, to purchase a used bus in good condition. Joe said that club members’ enthusiasm and energy was a major factor in submitting these grant proposals. When club members finally got the chance to see the new bus, they were amazed to see its new accessible capabilities and delighted to hear that residents of Samaritan Village were again able enjoy social outings – often the highlight of their week! 

The Healthy Aging Club is eager to welcome new members, continue working with the OSU and Corvallis community in programs that support older adults, and connect students interested in pursuing careers in gerontology.

Check out the Healthy Aging Club website, follow its Instagram (@healthyagingclub), or email [email protected] for updates on club meetings and events.