Housing, Help and Hope for Older Adults | | |
Making an Impact
Christy's Corner
Resident Life
Resident Profile
| |  | |
Advocacy
Staff News
65th Anniversary Spotlight
| | Making an Impact and Giving Back through Volunteerism | | |
It’s National Volunteer Month – a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of our volunteers while encouraging more people to get involved in their communities. We offer a wide range of opportunities at Fellowship Square, such as supporting resident services by donating toward supportive services, assisting with monthly wellness programs, and assisting with our Fellowship Fresh food distribution - as the above four photos illustrate!
How would you like to volunteer your time and talents? Find out more, give us a call, and make this the year you make big impact on the lives of our seniors.
| | Join us for a fun-filled 1960's celebration of Fellowship Square! You won't want to miss this opportunity to celebrate 65 years of serving seniors and hear about the next 65 years! | | Those With a Heart of Gold | | |
This year marks our 65th Anniversary, and we are celebrating many accomplishments and milestones. One of the most important factors in our success is the people who volunteer with Fellowship Square.
April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and so much of what we do could not be done without the dedicated individuals who spend a few hours – weekly, monthly or yearly – supporting seniors who struggle to make ends meet. We’re so proud and humbled by the continuous generosity from people in the community who value older adults and work to make their lives better.
It’s no surprise that with all the events, activities, programs and services supported by our staff, Board, and volunteers that Fellowship House seniors have many ways to combat boredom, loneliness and isolation. Thank you to those who have made a difference for the thousands of seniors who have called Fellowship House their home.
And for those looking for a meaningful way to give back, please consider signing on as a Fellowship Square volunteer. We have many opportunities to support our seniors – for individuals, groups, children’s groups, teenagers and everyone else! We’re always looking for people to support various activities at one or more of our properties, as well as to serve on the Board of Directors or a Board Committee.
Please reach out and get involved today!
With gratitude,
| |
Beautifying the Great Outdoors
Residents gathered on the grounds of Hunters Woods Fellowship House on Earth Day to neaten the landscaping, gather stray litter, and celebrate spring on our beautiful planet!
| | | | | |
Earth Day Crafts
Residents participated in a special Earth Day arts & crafts day at Lake Ridge Fellowship House, stenciling and painting reusable shopping bags and enjoying each other's company.
| | | |
Evangelist Virginia White
Evangelist Virginia White, a resident at Fellowship Square's Largo Landing Fellowship House for eight years, is a former nurse, a visual storyteller, and a seamstress. When she visits other adult communities to share Biblical stories, she even makes costumes to bring the stories alive.
“One of the most influential people in my life is Rev. Emanuel Williams from First Baptist Church of Highland Park,” Miss White shared. “He performs Sunday service at Largo Landing and has been an inspiration to me, while I help him with spiritual needs. My spirituality is part of my upbringing: I grew up in a very religious family of 10. I was not allowed to do a lot, but as I grew older and started making my own life decisions, I stayed true to how I was raised. For example, when I was choosing between a career as a nurse or teacher, I chose nurse because I was always helping others in the neighborhood.”
Miss White still enjoys visiting those who are sick and helping those in need at Largo Landing. As the “exercise lady,” she has also led Wake Up! Shake Up! every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for six years and hosts Bible Study classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
| | Making a Difference on Capitol Hill | |
On April 9, Fellowship Square CEO Christy Zeitz (pictured to left) and Resident Services Director Shari Carlson (pictured below, third from left) took part in LeadingAge Lobby Day, traveling to Capitol Hill to raise awareness of the most critical issues impacting aging services providers, their employees, and the older adults and families they serve. With their on-the-ground expertise, they advocated to advance key workforce recruitment and retention initiatives, increase funding for affordable housing programs, reduce the regulatory burden on nursing home providers, and bolster efforts to improve access to housing, care, and services for older adults.
Christy met with staff from the Maryland delegation, while Shari met with staff from the Virginia delegation.
| | Advocacy and Education at Affordable Housing Summit | |
Thank you, BisNow, for hosting Fellowship Square at the DMV Affordable Housing Summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 22! Fellowship Square CEO Christy Zeitz (not pictured), Director of Fundraising Zach Cummings (left) and Housing Portfolio Manager Nick Guglielmi (right) welcomed the opportunity to network with affordable housing builders, elected officials, business owners and housing advocates while promoting the benefits of Fellowship Square for our communities’ seniors.
| |
|
Welcome, Tiffany Bowe
Please join us in welcoming Tiffany Bowe, who has joined our staff as volunteer coordinator. With 20+ years of administrative experience in non-profit and executive operations, Tiffany specializes in project management, managing high-level communications, and fostering strong team relationships. She loves event planning, community engagement and ensuring organizations run efficiently while making a meaningful impact. Tiffany and her husband have three children, and they enjoy long walks on the beach, gardening, and football. In her spare time, she loves reading, crafting and the arts.
| | | | |
Welcome to the World, Eva!
Congratulations to Development Coordinator Brenda Martinez on the birth of Eva Montoya, born March 27.
| |
65th Anniversary Spotlight
| | |
A Retrospective on Service Leadership
Kathleen Harding, a Fellowship Square supporter since 1985, has served as an employee, a Board member, and a volunteer, epitomizing the wide range of people who have built and supported Fellowship Square over our 65-year history. We recently sat down with Kathleen to learn a little bit more about her involvement.
Q: How did you originally find out about Fellowship Square, and what inspired you to join our efforts?
A: I had been working part-time at a doctor’s office and felt antsy for something different. A friend mentioned that she’d seen a job posting at the Lake Ridge Fellowship House, and even though I live just down the street, I’d never heard of it. I went in to learn more through an interview with Sharon Farmer, never thinking I’d actually get the job. But we connected immediately, and I started my career as an assistant to Sharon shortly afterwards. I’ve since had the distinct privilege of also knowing and working with Dr. Scherzer, Leo Berger, and David Hartmann.
I often helped out the residents with a variety of their needs and started working exclusively with them in 2002, when I accepted a Service Coordinator position, where I remained until my retirement in 2020. I loved my experience; my grandmother influenced my life enormously – she even orchestrated my meeting my husband! – and working with residents, as well as volunteering with the Fellowship Fresh grocery delivery, has felt like a way to honor her and our relationship.
Q: How has your Board experience shaped your feelings about Fellowship Square?
A: After I retired, I learned that several Board members had rotated off for a variety of reasons, and it seemed like a good way to get involved with Fellowship Square in a new capacity. I love the residents and I support the service coordinators 100 percent. By serving on the Board and eventually serving as President, I feel like I can be there for them and support them – I know how hard their jobs are. I’ve been proud to grow the Board and reach near-equal representation between men and women members. I’m so proud of our ability – as an organization – to provide a safe, secure home for seniors who deserve it. There are incredibly impressive people living at Fellowship House, who have worked so hard and done so much for their communities, but just didn't make a lot of money over their lifetimes. I’m glad that we have provided them with a secure and safe home.
| | | | | |
