Housing, Help and Hope for Older Adults | | |
Season of Giving
Christy's Corner
Resident Life
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Profile: Jeanie Shelton
HQ & Board Updates
Fellowship Square, In the Field
| | Volunteers & Donors Bring Warmth and Dignity to Fellowship Square Residents | | |
Fellowship Square’s Season of Giving In-Kind Drive was a powerful demonstration of what happens when community generosity meets real resident needs. The drive, which ran from October 2025 to January 2026, successfully collected $14,080 in fair-market-value donations and delivered more than 2,000 essential items directly to residents of Hunters Woods Fellowship House, Lake Ridge Fellowship House, and Largo Landing Fellowship House.
This success would not have been possible without the incredible organizations and companies that stepped forward. We extend a heartfelt thanks to BF Saul Hospitality, whose holiday collection and volunteer support accounted for the largest contribution; 1st Stage Theatre, which integrated giving into a live production; and Synergy Home Care Loudoun for rallying donations. We are also deeply grateful to Capital Community Church, Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington, Westminster at Lake Ridge, By Faith Fund, and our generous Mary Kay representatives for mobilizing their communities on behalf of our residents.
Equally important were the volunteers and individual donors—more than 20 of whom gave through our Amazon Wish List—who helped sort, pack, and distribute items during joyful on-site celebrations.
This collective effort embodied Fellowship Square’s mission of Driving Housing Forward, proving that stability, dignity, and connection are built not only through housing, but through community.
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While many of us like to start anew on January 1 with goals and resolutions that will transform our lives, I use the beginning of January as a time of reflection and appreciation of all that has come before.
At Fellowship Square, we will not necessarily have any milestones or a transformational overhaul in 2026. Instead, we will have incremental achievements that fulfill our mission and make a significant positive impact on the people we serve and those with whom we work and interact.
Our key initiatives and priorities this year include:
- Securing financing and a childcare partner for our new Dogwood Fellowship House in Loudoun County, Virginia
- Evaluating the “At Your Service” in-home support model to determine viability and resident impact
- Improve resident assessments, bringing targeted programs and services to help them stay independent – and raise the funds to support these efforts
- Provide ongoing training and networking for our Boards of Directors, to include a risk assessment, and begin work on a new strategic plan
- Conduct a strategic staffing evaluation to ensure we have the right skills and expertise to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization
- Recruit new volunteers and community partners to carry out the on-the-ground work that is critical to meeting the needs of our residents
- Enjoy our new office space and improve our organizational culture to bring greater happiness and productivity to our staff
- Enjoy the journey!
I invite you to participate in our work and have a meaningful impact on the world around you. Fellowship House seniors have a lot to live for, and we will be there with them to enjoy today, tomorrow, and the future ahead!
In gratitude,
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Largo Landing Fellowship House
Largo Landing resident (above) Marta M, Agatha N., Lucette G., and Connie W., Marli S., and Frances D. listen to Mr. Walter with Legal Shield. In January, volunteers from Legal Shield visited Largo Landing Fellowship House to help residents with advanced planning, including support with Power of Attorney documents and Wills.
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Lake Ridge Fellowship House
Lake Ridge Fellowship House resident Ruby H. and Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center "Wills on Wheels" volunteer, Dorothy Terrell work through advanced planning at Lake Ridge Fellowship House.
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Hunters Woods Fellowship House
Residents enjoyed painting masks and fellowship during a fun-filled January activity. (from Left to Right) Aili L.,Xinzhen Q., and Xiangxin S. focus on painting their masks during the "Paint and Sip" at Hunters Woods Fellowship House.
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From Beaches to the Lake, a Life Well Lived
Jeanie Shelton, a native Virginian, choosing Lake Ridge Fellowship House felt like an easy choice after spending her childhood with her family at the beach: “I love the scenery, especially the lake,” she said, “and I remember when I first walked into Lake Ridge, I felt like I was in a hotel – it was so clean and so beautiful.”
Jeanie joined the Fellowship House community in 2002, moving from her family’s home in Stafford. In the years since, she’s made many new friends, with whom she’s enjoyed spending time, working on crafts and taking part in countless activities. She most recently celebrated her 96th birthday in September and has been grateful for the staff who have supported her so well throughout her years at Lake Ridge. “Kendrick, Lake Ridge’s maintenance manager, has always been a great help to me,” she added. “He is always respectful and quick to help residents and not keep them waiting.”
Jeanie is a former switchboard operator at what is formerly known as The Doctors’ Hospital in Washington, D.C. She is a longtime collector of antique dolls, some in beautiful dresses and even some with unique hats. She has given some to family members over the years, but still enjoys a good-sized collection. Jeanie’s favorite entertainers are Frank Sinatra and Vaughn Monroe, and she’s a fan of the Washington Commanders football team, too! Jeanie has two sons, six grandchildren, and six grandchildren, all of whom love to visit her at Lake Ridge.
So, what’s her secret to a long life? “Be happy and don’t worry about what others think.”
| | Headquarters & Board Update | | |
Two New Members Join Largo Landing Board
Please join us in welcoming Lenette O'Brien and Shelby Jenkins to our Largo Landing Fellowship House Board of Directors.
Lenette O'Brien, a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Coordinator (PRC), provides mental health services to people of all ages, helping them achieve life skills and goals to become productive members of society. During her tenure as a PRC over the last eight years, she has developed a profound understanding of the complexities of human behavior and the societal influences impacting mental health, which has been instrumental in shaping her approach towards psychiatric rehabilitation and remains a cornerstone of her career philosophy.
Lenette retired from a 20-year career in the Federal Government and then worked for over 10 years in the public-school system. She also contributed to the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy helping underprivileged youth through sports and education nurture personal growth and academic achievement.
Shelby Jenkins, who attended Bowie State University for her undergraduate degree in Psychology and later graduated from Trinity University with a Master’s degree in Community Counseling, has worked for more than 15 years at the American Psychological Association (APA).
She finds true enjoyment in giving back and helping impact positive change to our society. As such, she invests in several organizations that she feels helps accomplish those goals. She’s been an avid member of the ACLU and a donor to the Salvation Army, and she dedicates time to raising awareness of multiple sclerosis via The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Parkinson’s diseases via The Parkinson’s Foundation.
Shelby has familial ties that keep her grounded in serving and motivates her to serve. As a native resident of Prince George's County, she is committed to working with an organization that allows her to give back to the aging population in her community, and she understands the nuances in providing senior care and is deeply involved in providing support to those who are aging in place.
| | Welcome, Lenette O'Brien (left) and Shelby Jenkins (right), to our Largo Landing Fellowship House Board of Directors. | | |
Same Mission, Same Heart, New Address!
Just before the winter holidays, Fellowship Square relocated its headquarters to a new space just a few miles away from our old location. Our new address is 11790 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 275, Reston, VA 20191, and we are excited to continue our work serving older adults from our new space.
Curious to see our new offices? By all means feel free to stop by for a tour!
| | Fellowship Square, in the Field | | | This month, Fellowship Square was invited to The Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Marketing Association's (MAREMA) monthly meeting to introduce our organization and discuss senior affordable housing in the mid-Atlantic. Our Director of Fundraising, Zach Cummings (pictured), spoke to the group of commercial real estate agents, financial lenders, and property managers about the history of Fellowship Square, our properties, and our residents. Thank you to Corporate Member Alan Hansen and MAREMA
for having us at your meeting!
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