Last Updated on October 1, 2025
“O suns and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October’s bright blue weather…”
This beginning verse of October’s Bright Blue Weather by Helen Hunt Jackson always comes to mind when I look out on a bright blue sky in October. That blue just seems brighter than in any other month. Of course, I could be partial to October because it is the month of my birthday.
October has another special significance for those of us in Charlestown. It is a time for demonstrating how strongly we feel about the staff who work here through our Staff Appreciation Fund Campaign.
Employees are not permitted to accept any gifts or tips from the residents or their guests. Former neighbors who come to dine with me often want to leave a tip, and I explain that it is not allowed, but they can contribute in October during our Staff Appreciation Fund Campaign. Last year my friends did just that; they sent checks for me to contribute. Just as I am reminding you, I will be reminding them that their opportunity to show their appreciation is here again.
This is our opportunity to recognize and thank all of the people who make our lives so pleasant and mainte- nance-free: like Dave who changes the furnace filters and the batteries in our smoke detectors, and Andy who remembers how I like my coffee, and Debbie at Cross Creek’s front desk who greets us by name and with a big smile. It includes all those people we don’t see: like the staff behind the kitchen doors, the grounds crew keeping our landscapes beautiful, the cheerful phone operators at General Services, and our round-the-clock security team.
All hourly employees are recipients of your generosity. All the money received is distributed fairly to them in early December, based on their length of service and their full– or part-time pay status. a nominal amount of $2.00 per day, per person, and we are suggesting that again. If we were still living in our previous homes, we would probably spend more than an average of $2.00 a day on gratuities.
Last year, $416,300.00 was raised during the campaign and distributed to 845 dedicated employees. Please give what you feel you can. 72% of residents participated.
We would love to have 100% participation to show our staff how much we ALL appreciate them.
There are many easy ways to make your contribution:
- Drop a check payable to CCI Staff Appreciation Fund in the box at any of the lobby desks.
- Stop by the Philanthropy office in Cross Creek to make a one-time, or monthly, contribution to the fund using your credit card.
- Add your contribution to your monthly Instead of writing a large check, consider contributing monthly on your bill.
This year the campaign runs for the whole month of October. Envelopes will arrive in your cubbies on Wednesday, October 1.