Beneath all the twinkling lights, evergreen wreaths and neatly wrapped packages, you’ll find the greatest joy of the holiday season: the celebration that comes from simply being together.

Each December, Ardenwoods brings residents and staff together as a community to honor our special connection. Throughout the year, in lieu of tips to the staff, residents collect donations that are then distributed to staff at the end-of-year Employee Appreciation Party. Though the party and its participants may change season after season, it is always centered around the same theme: gratitude.

Each department put together a short presentation to thank the residents for their generosity — through poems, heartfelt thank yous, and even a few songs with accompanying dances. Two of our dining room servers, both of whom are musicians in their school band, performed Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” while a few other servers danced along.

The connection between Ardenwoods’ residents and staff is what drives the small-town atmosphere that we strive for in our community. It is rare for the entire staff to gather in one place, and to do so with the residents filled the dining room with love, laughter and family. Getting to work together is always special, but there is nothing quite like the Employee Appreciation Party.