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Fellowship Square improves the lives of older adults who struggle to make ends meet by providing them with affordable housing and supportive services.
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Save the Date!
2022 Annual Report
Welcome New Staff Member
Christy's Corner
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Thank You Service Coordinators!
Resident Life
Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteer Opportunities
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Join Us for a Donor/Volunteer Appreciation Reception
"Our Residents Shape Our Communities"
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Saturday, May 20 | 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Lake Anne House
Main Lobby & Patio
Parking available on the street (North Shore Drive) or in the Lake Anne Plaza parking lot area adjacent to the Just Cats Clinic.
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We look forward to thanking you for all you do...
Your support is vital to our success!
We couldn't do this without you!
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Join us for hors d'oeuvres, wine,
refreshments and live music in honor of YOU!
This event follows the Annual Meeting for our leadership and offers an opportunity to network and socialize with those who have been most dedicated to our communities.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
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Look at What We Accomplished in 2022
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Kristen Fitzgerald is Excited to Join the Fellowship Square Team as our Volunteer Program Manager!
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A graduate of New York University, Kristen has been enthusiastic about the work of non-profits since founding her company The First Act, a theater company that aimed to educate young thespians and raise money for other local non-profits.
After founding her company, Kristen worked as a Community Integration Coordinator at ServiceSource Inc. connecting people with disabilities with the resources that they needed to thrive both personally and socially. She is passionate about accessibility and is always looking for new ways to create inclusive communities.
When not working, Kristen can be found outside with her blind hound dog, Murdock. She also enjoys writing, aerial sports, crocheting, and performing in her free time.
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Spiritual Care Matters to Seniors
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Fellowship Square’s founding in 1960 started by a group of Lutherans who envisioned a community where older adults had a safe and comfortable home to live that they could afford – 63 years later, we’ve made their vision a reality.
Aside from housing, one of our first resident programs was the Wegner Chaplaincy which provided for an onsite Pastor to meet with residents individually or in group settings for discussion and reflection.
As you might imagine, the COVID pandemic made it impossible for us to continue to offer onsite spiritual support. We put the Wegener Chaplaincy “on hold” during the pandemic and for the last few years, many Church partners stepped up to offer onsite Bible Study and worship to support residents during these challenging times.
We are reevaluating the Wegner Chaplaincy and working to understand our residents needs and desires in this area. We have a more diverse resident population now than we did in the early years and the religious and spiritual interests of our residents has changed as well.
While we continue to fine-tune the Wegner Chaplaincy Program, we know that spiritual support remains an important part of a senior’s well-being. A recent study shows the important benefits of spiritual support and how it impacts their physical and mental health.
If you’re interested in supporting the Wegner Chaplaincy, you can make a tax-deductible gift specifically for that program. And, if your Church is not already one of our partners, we’d love to speak to you about a partnership.
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Thank You Service Coordinators!
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In March, residents at Fellowship Square celebrated Social Work Month by showering their service coordinators with love. Residents wrote thank you letters, gave flowers, and just stopped by their office to say thank you!
Our service coordinators go above and beyond in helping our residents! Their job is to help motivate residents to maintain healthy, active lifestyles and to empower them to become more self-sufficient and maintain control of the decisions that affect them. They do this by organizing programs and activities, informing residents of community resources and navigating Medicare, Medicaid, and other benefits which residents are entitled to.
Many thanks to Nicole, Jane, and Grace for all the work they do for our residents and their families!
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Staying Active and Engaged
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Largo Landing Fellowship House
March was Nutrition Month at Largo Landing Fellowship House. It was a perfect time to help older adults advocate for their own health by focusing on adequate nutrition. Grace Foster, Largo Landing's Service Coordinator, taught an interactive cooking class where residents learned how to cook healthy meals on a budget. Nutritious food supports the physical dimension of wellness and can help individuals maintain or improve their health and functional ability.
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A friendly competition among the residents: who can make the healthiest salad?
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Hunters Woods Fellowship House
During a health seminar at Hunters Woods, Dr. Leiling Chen helped raise awareness of colorectal cancer. He explained to residents how to recognize the symptoms and included educational depictions of the various cancer stages. Thank you, Dr. Chen, for taking the time to visit our residents at Hunters Woods!
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Lake Ridge Fellowship House
Lake Ridge residents had a great time reflecting on the women's rights movement and learning about empowered women who encouraged others with their bravery, dignity, determination, and talent during Women’s Month.
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Volunteering is a Work of Heart
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“The more you do for others, the more satisfied you are with yourself,” says Ivana Uzunic, a volunteer at Fellowship Square. Having been a former health professional, Ivana knows how commitment to kindness through volunteering has positive outcomes for those in need.
She wants people to know that volunteering at Fellowship Square is very rewarding and provides a special opportunity to learn and work in a multicultural and multilingual environment. She believes that Fellowship Square approaches each resident’s needs individually through a superior level of support. Each time she volunteers, “I learn something new, and that is what is most important for me.”
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Fellowship Square staff members Senior Director, Judy Singer and Communications and Development Coordinator, Brenda Martinez, were among the attendees at the Fourth Annual Fairfax County Housing Symposium. This event brought together elected leaders, industry professionals, policy experts, and housing advocates with the primary goal of advancing the role of affordable housing within Fairfax County. Panelists and attendees explored collaboration and regional approaches to increasing affordable housing; accelerating equity and opportunity for homeowners; and leveraging resources to create affordable housing in challenging markets.
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The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, in partnership with 14 regional organizations, hosted the Sixth Annual Shape of the Region Conference to explore the issues facing our residents as we age. Since its inception in 2018, the event has evolved into a platform that helps organize our collective efforts to co-create a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable region.
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Fellowship Square’s Senior Director, Judy Singer, along with Resident Life Director, Katherine Alexander (right), attended the conference – pictured with panelist Steve Gurney (left) to explore the issues facing our residents as we age.
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Reminder: If you have a Thrivent account, please designate Fellowship Square for donations
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Stay in touch with Fellowship Square on Facebook!
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We post articles, updates on activities and events, our monthly newsletter, and pertinent information regarding our properties.
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