Fellowship Square provides affordable housing and services for older adults.

AUGUST 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

'Nip & Sip' Fundraiser, Sept. 19 Artist Workshop at Hunter's Woods Spotless Summer Cleaning Drive Resident Life Thank you Tony Esse Christy's Corner Support from "Gifts of Hope" Lion's Club Partnership Intern Henry Guan Call for Interns

Join Us!

Featuring a variety of wines and fall appetizers Thursday, September 19, 2019 6:30 – 8:30 pm 6406 Ivy Lane Greenbelt, MD 20770 (Venue generously provided by  Bozzuto Construction Company )

RSVP

Our residents need your support! Join us on September 19 and enjoy an evening of mingling, wine sipping, raffle and much more!  Sponsorship Opportunities Available   Want to help with the event?  Volunteers needed!   Please contact Judy Singer ([email protected]) for more information. Thank you!

Art Workshop with Ben Volta at Hunters Woods Fellowship House

Fellowship Square is proud to participate in this exciting inter-generational project to beautify the Colts Neck Road underpass organized by Public Art Reston . Watch here as we create what is sure to become a masterpiece!

Cleaning Supply Donations Help Stretch Seniors' Budgets

Fellowship Square’s ‘Spotless Summer Cleaning Drive’ was a success thanks to New Life Russian Church and the support of Pastor Victor Visotsky (pictured at right with George Davies , Hunters Woods Fellowship House community manager). Organized this summer by Fellowship Square Volunteer Coordinator Intern, Sahana Ven , the cleaning supplies collected through this initiative will help alleviate our seniors’ household budgets as these items can be difficult to afford for individuals with low income.

Thank you, also, to  St. John Neumann Catholic Community and  St. Thomas à Becket Catholic Church for their participation, as well as many others, for their support!

RESIDENT LIFE

Resident Appreciation Week

In mid-August,  Lake Ridge Fellowship House held its annual pancake social during Resident Appreciation Week. Volunteers helped make and serve sausages and pancakes to the residents who thoroughly enjoyed them!

National Night Out

Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition and Cornerstones partnered together to host a picnic celebration for the 2019 National Night Out initiative from noon to 2 p.m. on August 6—  Hunters Woods Fellowship House residents participated in full force! National Night Out is an initiative celebrated across the nation where communities partner with their local law enforcement to support public safety.

FELLOWSHIP SQUARE APPRECIATION

Our Deepest Thanks…

All of us at Fellowship Square would like to thank Tony Esse , outgoing Lake Anne Fellowship House board president and Fellowship Square board member, for his longtime support and dedication.  Tony was steadfast in his mission to ensure that the residents of Lake Anne were heard, and his concern for their welfare was unwavering. Thank you, Tony! You will be missed!

Pictured above, Lake Anne Fellowship House Board and Staff.

CHRISTY'S CORNER

Keep Your Pearly Whites Healthy

Maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet as you age is a cornerstone of living longer and maintaining your independence. But how do you eat healthy when you can’t chew your food because of a cavity or gum disease – and you lack the resources to get the dental services you need?  For seniors on a low fixed income, like those living at Fellowship House, maintaining their oral health is a challenge because most dental procedures and check-ups are not covered by Medicare, and Medicaid coverage is very limited. How can we expect people to eat more fruits and vegetables if they do not have healthy teeth to allow them to bite and chew properly?  According to the American Dental Association, oral health touches every aspect of our lives but is often taken for granted. Your mouth is a window into the health of your body; it can show signs of nutritional deficiencies or general infection. Systemic diseases, those that affect the entire body, may first become apparent because of mouth lesions or other oral problems. Poor oral hygiene can make a person more susceptible to disease.   I know that Fellowship House residents struggle to keep their mouths healthy. Last year, more than 60% of our emergency funds used for residents’ expenses covered costs associated with oral health and dental care. Whether you are 80 or 8, your oral health is important. Please continue to support Fellowship Square with your generous financial contributions so that we can ensure that all of our residents have access to quality dental care.  In gratitude,

Christy Zeitz CEO

SUPPORT FOR FELLOWSHIP SQUARE

Making an Impact

Thanks to Gifts of Hope , Fellowship Square was the recipient of over $11,000 in funds this fiscal year!  Gifts of Hope is a ministry sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington DC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). They are a family of volunteers, congregations, donors, the Synod, and 18 beneficiary organizations – Fellowship Square is one of them. Over more than 25 years, they have raised and disbursed over $3,370,000 to their many and varied beneficiary organizations.     Gifts of Hope is an alternative gift-giving program that serves as an intermediary between donors and  organizations  serving individuals and families in need locally and internationally.  Gifts  are available year-round, however, the program’s primary focus is during the holidays, including the liturgical season of Advent.  Their mission is to maximize funds going to the beneficiary organizations and to encourage volunteer involvement. The gift-giving program is open to all people, regardless of their faith or religious affiliation and helps people in need regardless of their own faith or religious affiliation. To participate in their giving program, or to get your congregation involved, please visit  Gifts of Hope for more information.

HEALTHY LIVING

Hear Them Roar

Fellowship Square is always proud to be engaged with other organizations and we are excited to acknowledge our ongoing relationship with the  Lions Club . The Lions Club is a global organization with various philanthropic endeavors, but local Lions Clubs specialize in providing hearing aids and eyeglasses for those who need them most.  The Lake Ridge Lions Club had supported the Lake Ridge Fellowship House for several years, but they have recently dissolved their membership. Since then, the Woodbridge Lion’s Club (with the assistance of Ascent Audiology ) has picked up where Lake Ridge had left off and continues provide hearing aids to residents in need.   Fellowship Square is grateful to Woodbridge Lion’s Club President Chet Nolf and to Dr. Leisa Lyles-Deleon of Ascent Audiology for their ongoing support.  We look forward to continuing these relationships in the future and remain grateful for their contributions! By John Brown, FS Communications Intern

INTERN NEWS

Henry Guan, Resident Programs Intern

Henry Guan joined Fellowship Square’s internship program in mid-July, 2019. Originally from China, Henry is a graduate student studying Accounting at George Mason University. Among his many interests, he enjoys swimming, reading books and watching movies. Henry has been a tremendous help to Fellowship Square, especially with regard to translation services, and plans to continue supporting the organization when he returns to his studies in the fall.

Reminder: If you have a Thrivent account, please designate Fellowship Square for donations 

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