The spirit of giving inspires residents at Catonsville senior living community

The late actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn once said, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” It’s that same philosophy of service to others that permeates throughout the 110-acre campus of Charlestown, a senior living community managed by Erickson Living in Catonsville, Md.

Of the 2,300 residents who call Charlestown home, more than 800 volunteer their time to dozens of different organizations, including homeless shelters, libraries, elementary schools, and churches.

“Volunteering gives our residents the ability to do what they are passionate about while also giving to others,” says Stephanie Knowles, volunteer program coordinator at Charlestown. “When someone shows an interest in volunteering, we talk through their interests and passions, and if they aren’t sure, we talk it through until we discover what that is. Then we connect them with opportunities. If there aren’t any opportunities at that time, we help them create the opportunity by forming their own group that supports that passion,” says Knowles.

For Charlestown resident Connie Andrews, giving back has always been a part of her life. “I volunteered before I moved to Charlestown, mostly at my church,” says Connie. “I worked at the parish carnival and bingo, and I counted collections. When I moved to Charlestown, I started volunteering with the Treasure Sale sorting items, as well as with set up and the sale itself. A bunch of us also knit and crochet baby caps, booties, and blankets for the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at Mercy Hospital as part of a group called Stitches from the Heart. And I help with Charlestown’s Winter Putterland [a miniature golf course].”

Meeting new people

Connie says she discovered that the more she volunteers, the more she wants to volunteer. “It’s fun. You get to meet people you would not normally meet. You do things you would not normally do. You end up having a lot of laughs,” says Connie.

As Connie alluded, the benefits of volunteering go way beyond the recipients. Studies have shown volunteers experience increased satisfaction with life, greater self-esteem, a stronger sense of purpose, feel less isolated, and have slower cognitive decline.

“It is so fun to see community members become excited and engaged in a cause they are passionate about. It brings a zest to life that nothing other than volunteering can bring,” says Knowles.

In September 2020, Knowles organized a campus-wide day for Charlestown residents to serve called Unity with the Community. She developed the idea based on the Day to Serve, an annual multi-week event spanning Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C., which encourages people from all walks of life to come together to help those in need.

“Volunteers participated in a variety of different service projects, including making and donating over 100 face masks, collecting school supplies for local elementary school students, and making more than 40 no-sew blankets for Ronald McDonald House Charities,” says Knowles. “Most of the materials used for these projects were bought through donations from Charlestown residents. Volunteers enjoyed giving of themselves and their time, and many said that it was great to have something positive to focus on during the pandemic and they were touched to be a part of it.”

Mary Marshall is another community member who embodies the spirit of lifelong service. “I have been volunteering as long as I can remember,” says Mary. “I remember as a young girl going to the Inner Harbor and taking blankets onto the Navy ship Hope. I’ve volunteered with the Girl Scouts, as well as intellectually disabled adults. I have been blessed and I am so happy to give back in any way I can.”

Getting involved

Mary was eager to get involved when she and her husband moved to Charlestown less than a year ago. “I started with the Baltimore County Bookmobile in 2020,” says Mary. “I sort the books and call people to let them know their books are in. During the pandemic, I took communion to residents and helped dining services take to-go orders.”

Knowles says several new groups are now organizing to serve the greater community. “We have one group who will be making crocheted/knitted breast inserts for people who have undergone mastectomies. There is another group forming to collect magazines, large print books, and cards for residents in our continuing care neighborhood. And a third group will be making art and activity kits to give to veterans to help with PTSD and anxiety,” says Knowles.

As Mary settles in, she hopes to take advantage of more opportunities to volunteer. “I have always felt so fortunate and so blessed for what I have and I just feel like I want to give back and pay it forward somehow or another,” says Mary.

Would you like to learn more about the caring community at Charlestown? Call 1-800-481-0935 or request more information today.

About Charlestown: Charlestown, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Living^®, is situated on a scenic 110-acre campus in Catonsville, Maryland. The community is located in Baltimore County and is home to more than 2,000 residents who are supported by a team of more than 1,200 employees. Additional information about Charlestown can be found at CharlestownCommunity.com.

Written by Danielle Rexrode