October 2025

Together, We’re Supporting Women’s Health

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and stand together in the fight for early detection and accessible care. At Fellowship Square, supporting our residents’ health is at the heart of our mission—and thanks to friends like you, we’re able to bring that care directly to where it’s needed most.

This fall, we’re proud to highlight a meaningful partnership with Sentara Health. Their MammoVan recently visited Lake Ridge Fellowship House, providing on-site breast cancer screenings for our female residents. For many seniors, transportation, cost, or mobility issues can make preventative screenings difficult. By bringing these services to our community, we’re removing barriers and giving our residents peace of mind and access to lifesaving care—all in a place they know and trust.

Your support makes this possible: Every financial contribution fuels our wellness programs and ensures that our residents—many living on limited incomes—can continue to live healthy, independent lives.

As we launch our fall fundraising campaign, we invite you to stand with us. Together, we can bring hope, health, and care to the seniors who call Fellowship Square home.

Federal Government Shutdown UPDATE



The federal government remains shut down after Congress was unable to negotiate an extension of federal funding, which expired at the end of September. As a result of the shutdown, non-essential government services are paused. The impacts vary across federal agencies. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has confirmed it has enough funding to deliver contracted subsidy payments to operators like Fellowship Square through the end of December.

Most importantly, public programs that are mandatorily funded, including Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, and Medicaid are expected to continue.

We expect a budget agreement to be reached well before the end of the year. In the unlikely event that budget negotiations continue into 2026, Fellowship Square and its properties have strong financial reserves that will allow us to continue all necessary operations and keep housing and service disruption that affect residents to a minimum.

Christy's Corner

Breast Cancer is Not Welcome Here

Fellowship Square hosted a number of breast cancer awareness programs across our properties this month. The majority of our residents are women, and breast cancer is a significant health concern for senior women, with nearly 20 percent of diagnoses occurring in those over 75.

Given my own journey with breast cancer in 2017, I know how important annual screenings are to catch tumors early and begin treatment right away. During the month of October, our team encourages residents to actively participate in the programs we offer – so that they can learn more, take measures to reduce their risk, and find out where to get answers and support when needed.

We’re proud to be a part of the nationally recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month to remind everyone that while a cancer diagnosis can feel serious and scary, education is power, and Fellowship Square is doing what we can to keep our residents informed, healthy and independent.

I encourage you to get involved in our mission – and make a difference in the lives of those who came before us.

With gratitude,

Christy Zeitz

CEO

Volunteer Profile

Residents Take Advantage of Mobile Mammography at Lake Ridge

Tracie Mayhew, coordinator of Sentara's mobile mammography unit for the last 10 years, drives a "MammoVan" to sites throughout Virginia to make mammography appointments fast and convenient. In October, Tracie brought the van to the Lake Ridge Fellowship House to conduct mammogram screenings for residents, marking the third consecutive year that Fellowship House has welcomed Tracie and the MammoVan to its campus.

"We screened 12 women, and I'm so glad they were able to take advantage of the convenience this mobile mammography unit offers," Tracie said. "It's a screening most people dread, and by eliminating some of the stress and challenges of having to commute to a facility and spend time in unfamiliar waiting rooms, we can make the whole experience feel a lot easier."

The mobile unit is designed for comfort, with private dressing rooms, central air/heating and a platform step for safer entry. Best of all, qualifying for the mobile screening is easy: Anyone over the age of 40 doesn't need a physician's referral for an annual screening mammogram; Sentara accepts insurance from those with coverage; and care is provided to patients who are uninsured on a prorated basis.

Thank you, Tracie and Sentara, for providing this important service to our residents!

Resident Profile

A Life of Gratitude at Largo Landing

Jennifer Dix, a lifelong Marylander, has been an important part of the Largo Landing Fellowship House community for 27 years. Prior to moving here, she lived with family in Suitland, MD, and first discovered Largo Landing Fellowship House when the community was hosting a yard sale.

When it came time to relocate after her family home was sold, she remembered Largo Landing and, with the help of her husband’s sister, chose it due to its nice atmosphere and a convenient location.

In the years since, she regularly attends social events at the Fellowship House, where she’s made many friends, and she worships at Riverdale Church. Her brothers regularly visit her for holidays, get-togethers, and birthdays, and, during her free time, she likes to listen to music, work on puzzles, and build her growing collection of angels – she has more than 30!

Looking back on her childhood, she said, she looked up to and admired her parents, who she views as her biggest role models. “They instilled values of kindness, hard work, and perseverance in me, and I loved spending a lot of time with family at events and picnics, creating great memories. My family influenced me so much, showing empathy, care, and goodwill toward others – things I try to continue every day.” 

Resident Services

Staff Update

Two Interns Join Fellowship Square Staff

Please join us in welcoming Resident Services Intern Camila Eterovic and Real Estate Intern James Gore to Fellowship Square.

Camila's internship is part of the Civic Fellows Program she is enrolled in at George Mason University (GMU). Thanks to her experience volunteering at Springfield’s ECHO and interning in the Fairfax County General District Court Services Division, she understands the importance of empathetically supporting communities. She is fluent in both English and Spanish, is always willing to engage in conversation, and is looking forward to building meaningful relationships with residents and contributing to an inclusive environment at Fellowship Square.

She is passionate about social justice and ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to the advocacy they deserve. Now in her final year at GMU, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminology, law and society with a double minor in sociology and legal studies and hopes to begin law school in the next academic school year. 

James, a business management and finance graduate from Florida State University, holds the strong belief that affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues facing his generation, and he is eager to make a difference through his work at Fellowship Square while learning as much about affordable housing as he can.

James grew up in Episcopal Church Bethesda-by-The-Sea, where he spent his weekends volunteering directly with the church or on collaborative programs, ranging from food drives to gifting clothes to sailors. He’s been on multiple mission trips internationally, which drove his initial passion for helping others. “Once you see the difference you can make, it’s not something you can stop,” he said.

James enjoys learning about geopolitics and playing basketball and Fortnite in his free time.

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