Last Updated on May 6, 2025
It is hard for me to believe that three-fourths of my year as President is over. As you know each month, I have an article for the Sunburst that hopefully informs residents about their community. Each month it becomes harder to find the topic that most of you would find interesting. I looked back over the last 7 Sunburst articles that I produced as President. There were two things that jumped out at me; that being talking about the Council members who are exceptional in what they do for us. They work tirelessly to improve this place we call home and are exceptional in fostering communications between residents and management. So, this month’s article covers what those who volunteer mean to Charlestown.
There are 21 members of the Council as well as the past president who dedicate their time and talent for the betterment of the community. These members stepped up to serve the community for a three-year term. They attend at least 3 meeting a month, take time out of their fun filled days to prepare for these meeting, e.g., writing agenda and minutes for their meetings. Each month they developed key committee bullets from which they inform the residents at the monthly Residents’ Council meeting. They also contribute to authoring informative articles in the Sunburst about their Committee. They also prepare input and attend quarterly Board of Directors and Erickson Executive Team meetings. Yes, these 22 people are volunteers who are dedicated to make life better at Charlestown for each one of us. The time they give each year to this cause is estimated to be over 5,000 hours (about 7 months). Many of the Council members also volunteer their time and talents with other groups such as the Harmonizers, the Little Theater, The Treasurer Sale, Dining Together, Sales Ambassador, and apartment clean outs to name a few. They do this because they care about the community, but they also receive a lot of enjoyment in being involved. When you see a Council member give them a big “Thank You” for what they do for you. Council members wear a yellow badge with black lettering. This was another effort by the Council to change the color of the badge so low vision people could better read the name on the badge.
Besides the 21 members of the Residents’ Council there are another 700 residents who volunteer in many different activities at Charlestown. These residents contribute over 135,000 hours (about 15 and a half years) of service to the community annually. Some of these 700 residents, about 150, volunteers also volunteer outside of Charlestown supporting dozens of programs to include among other things tutoring children, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, BWI Pathfinders, and Little Sisters of the Poor to name a few. What I am trying to show is that there are many ways to volunteer both on campus and off campus. There is always a need for more volunteers.
Volunteering at Charlestown offers residents a meaningful and rewarding way to spend their time, benefiting both themselves and Charlestown. Volunteering provides the following benefits to you:
- Volunteering allows you to feel useful and make a difference, particularly in causes you care about.
- Volunteering provides opportunities to meet new people, combat loneliness, and stay socially active.
- It allows you to use existing skills or learn new ones, contributing to cognitive health
- Many volunteers feel a desire to give back to their communities, especially if they have benefited from similar support in the past.
- Some volunteer roles offer light physical activity, which can contribute to overall health and well-being.
- Volunteering often comes with flexible hours.
Volunteering is more than just giving time — it is giving heart. It connects us to our community (Charlestown), lifts others in need, and brings meaning to our own lives. Whether you are offering a listening ear, lending a hand, or sharing a skill, every act of service creates a ripple of kindness. For those who give, the rewards are endless: new friendships, sharper minds, and a soul filled with purpose.
Now more than ever, the Charlestown needs helpers. Will you be one of them? Hopefully, you will step forward to volunteer. Please contact Allison Chlada, Volunteer Program Coordinator, for more information about Charlestown’s volunteer program.