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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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Winter Wonderland
Resident Fun and Safety
Christy's Corner
Watch Your Mailbox
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Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Our New Staff
Intern Opportunities
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Sponsors and Silent Auction donations needed!
For more information, contact:
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Having Fun and Staying Safe —
A Healthy Combination for Seniors
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Largo Landing
Fellowship House
On September 19th
Ms. Michelle Jackson of the Prince George's County Office of the Sheriff gave a presentation on how to remain safe inside and outside your home. She explained the relationship between falls and things that contribute to them, such as poor lighting, effects of medication, and vision issues.
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Hunters Woods
Fellowship House
On Friday, September 9, the Hunters Woods Community held an exciting Fun Fair. This was the second year Hunters Woods Fellowship House hosted a multigenerational event to unite residents, staff, volunteers, and families. More than 120 residents participated, and the event was supported by approximately twenty volunteers and community partners. The outdoor event featured games, moon bounces, music, food and prizes. Participants could even dunk Fellowship Square’s CEO, Christy Zeitz!
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Lake Ridge
Fellowship House
On September 14th, Quantum Medical informed Lake Ridge residents about the importance of therapeutic shoes and stability. This presentation also advised residents on how Medicare, and most insurance plans, cover the cost of one pair of diabetic shoes and three pairs of custom inserts per calendar year.
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No one likes to feel stuck at home. Having transportation available to us is one way that we all feel empowered and independent. As we age, driving can become more challenging. As our cognitive abilities decline we may not be quite ready to give up our vehicles and the freedom to jump in the car and hit the road.
At Fellowship Square, we know how important transportation is to the daily lives of our residents – from grocery shopping and running errands to getting to doctor’s appointments and visiting family. Annually, we provide important safety programs and reviews of safe driving habits. We schedule weekly trips to local stores and doctor’s visits through the use of the Fellowship House passenger bus. And, this past year, we reviewed and accounted for all the vehicles parked at our properties to better understand which residents had cars available to them, what condition the cars were in and if the residents have struggled to maintain them in any way (i.e., inspections, tags or operability).
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a Fact Sheet about seniors and driving. While seniors accounted for 17% of all traffic fatalities 2019-2020, the number was actually lower than in previous years. Ongoing education for seniors is an important part of keeping these numbers low.
We continually strive to help our seniors stay independent, as long as they are able – and to help them cut costs where they can. Maintaining a car can be an expensive burden on seniors who have limited funds. At the same time, transportation is a regular part of daily life. We continue to offer as many options as we can, such as our own House Bus, on-demand ride services like Uber and taxi cabs, and partnering with others, like churches and the county bus system.
Older adults have the same needs that you and I do to drive and be self-sufficient. I encourage you to consider how you might get involved to help them get to where they need to go.
With gratitude,
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Older drivers made up 21 percent of all licensed drivers in the US in 2020.
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David Park, Fitness Instructor |
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David Park is a pre-medical student who has been volunteering weekly at Hunters Woods Fellowship House since February 2022. Initially, he helped with the Fellowship Fresh food delivery program, but soon he was asked to lead the “Happy Together” wellbeing exercise program. He was pleased to have a role that would allow him to have a greater impact on the residents. The weekly sessions have typically been held outside (weather-permitting) during the building renovations and include movements designed to improve mobility and lower extremity strength.
Mr. Park has been glad to hear that several participants have noticed improvements in their strength and stability since beginning the exercise program. We are very thankful to David Park for consistently offering this important program for the Hunters Woods residents.
If you or your organization are interested in volunteering with Fellowship Square, please contact Diane Beatley at dbeatley@fellowshipsquare.org or 703-483-8575. |
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WELCOME NEW STAFF MEMBER! |
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Meet Ying Pei, Accounting Assistant |
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Ying Pei earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from George Mason University. She is fluent in Chinese and English and has worked as a bookkeeper for the past two years. Her previous work experience includes service as a department supervisor for the Coast Guard Exchange where she managed operations across five cross-functional departments.
She has a love for cooking, housework, art, travel and a passion for assisting people. She looks forward to serving Fellowship Square, and all of the learning and growth opportunities the organization offers as well. An ‘out-of-the-box’ thinker, Ying is committed to continuously improving residents’ quality of life through joining the Fellowship Square team!
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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!
We post articles, updates on activities and events, our monthly newsletter, and pertinent information regarding our properties.
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