Housing, Help and Hope for Older Adults |
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"Ready to Respond" In-Kind Drive
Resident Life
Christy's Corner
Meet Our Resident:
Gretchen Jacobs
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Volunteer Appreciation:
Ingrid Velarde
National Hot Tea Day
Your Review Matters!
We're Hiring—Apply Today!
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"Ready to Respond" In-Kind Drive |
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Starting March 1, 2024
Drop-off Location: Fellowship Houses
(additional designated locations to be announced soon)
In the face of unexpected emergencies, it is crucial to be well-prepared. That's why we are calling upon YOU to assist us in making sure our residents are well equipped with essential emergency preparedness items. Your donations will go a long way toward keeping our residents safe and ready to respond to any crisis that may arise, from natural disasters to power outages. Your support will be greatly appreciated!
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Items Needed:
Emergency Kits | Canned Food | Batteries | First Aid Kits | Blankets
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For more information contact
More information coming soon!
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The Glaucoma Research Foundation estimates that three million Americans have glaucoma. Older adults are six times more likely to develop glaucoma after age 60 and are at an even higher risk if they have a sibling or a parent with the disease.
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Empowering Residents through Education and Community Giving |
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Lake Ridge
Fellowship House
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month! Residents at Lake Ridge watched a presentation about glaucoma and learned ways to help keep their vision intact. They also participated in a "how much do you know" questionnaire.
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Volunteer Summer Miller assisting a resident during Glaucoma Awareness presentation. |
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Hunters Woods
Fellowship House
Hunters Woods hosted an event for Glaucoma Awareness Month featuring talks by eye experts Dr. Dar and Dr. Yun. These informative sessions were invaluable for our residents, providing essential knowledge about eye health directly from professionals.
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Dr. Yun speaking to residents about eye health care. |
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Largo Landing
Fellowship House
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A volunteer organizing Largo Landing’s community room with the donations received. |
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Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik |
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At Fellowship Square, we’ve learned that access to healthcare is the starting point for a long and healthy life. For years, we have worked with many healthcare partners to provide services, resources and referrals to residents so that they are able to maintain their independence and address issues as they arise.
One strategic area we’re evaluating is a Wellness Center concept that not only groups healthcare activities in one place at a Fellowship House, but also allows us to more formally plan, manage and engage with those specialists that are part of our network. Creating opportunities for healthcare workers and Fellowship House residents to engage and connect had always been just a nice thing to do. Now we know that it’s a critical part of fulfilling our mission.
More and more studies show that older adults who have easy access to their doctors and other resources is the number one way of ensuring optimum health. Fellowship Square can do more than just provide the space, we can more actively support residents on this journey so they know they don’t have to do it alone. Sometimes, older adults are willing to let things slide because they think no one cares. Fellowship Square cares and we are working hard to make sure they know how important they are to us and that includes their health.
I encourage you to get involved in the work we do – as a volunteer, partner, donor or as a leader on our Board or serve on a Committee. We continue to explore new ways in which we can help our residents live a better life. I hope you will join us in our efforts!
With gratitude,
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Meet Our Resident: Gretchen Jacobs |
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From a quaint town nestled outside of Pittsburgh, PA, Gretchen Jacobs embarked on a remarkable journey that would eventually lead her to the heart of Woodbridge, VA. The insights she shared during conversation shed light on the transformative power of community, diversity, and acceptance.
Twelve years ago, while residing in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, Ms. Jacobs wanted to live closer to her daughter and forge new connections. Accompanied by her daughter's unwavering support, she made the life-altering decision to move to Woodbridge and secured an apartment in a thriving community – at the Lake Ridge Fellowship House - where she could create a fresh start.
Written By: Mohamed Mohamed, Marketing Intern
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Ingrid Velarde: A Beacon of Compassion in Senior Care and Advocacy |
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Ingrid Velarde’s heart has always been devoted to helping others. Her passion for ‘giving back’ is not just something she does; it’s who she is. As a Program Supervisor at Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFR), she works tirelessly to connect people with resources they need. She jokes that she can’t stop helping others and engages people everywhere she goes. She describes a time years ago, that while waiting at a bus stop, she met a fellow parent and ended up inviting them to her house to help them apply for Medicare benefits.
When Ingrid began her bachelor’s degree program at Strayer University, she was awarded the Fellowship for Justice scholarship, which requires the recipient to volunteer. While working at NVFS, she noticed there were many seniors coming into their food bank who struggled with access to resources they needed, so she decided her volunteer requirement would be satisfied by assisting these older adults.
Written By: Kristen Fitzgerald, Program Volunteer Manager
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National Hot Tea Day with Herralink |
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The National Hot Tea Day celebration on January 12th at Hunters Woods Fellowship House was a hit! Thanks to the generous donations from Crumbl Cookies through Herralink, our residents enjoyed delicious treats that perfectly complemented our tea.
The event featured delightful interactions between high school students and our residents, with Jane, our talented service coordinator, providing soothing piano melodies. Isabella Solano from Herralink and the students beautifully decorated Fellowship Hall, creating a festive atmosphere. It was a great opportunity for our residents to relax and socialize.
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It’s easy and only takes three minutes!
If you love our work, then tell the world! Did you know that just behind recommendations from friends and families, reviews impact volunteering and donation decisions the most? Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a review about your experience with Fellowship Square?
Visit GreatNonprofits – a review site like Yelp, but for nonprofits – to tell the world what you think about us. All reviews are visible to potential donors and volunteers.
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We're Hiring — Apply Today! |
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Director of Engagement & Development
To Apply:
Send a cover letter and resume to dcacciotti@engagehrnow.com and explain how your skills and experience will help achieve results that align with our mission and vision. Be specific, thoughtful and creative so we know you read the job ad and are truly interested in meeting us.
Thank you for your time and interest in working at Fellowship Square!
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Reminder: If you have a Thrivent account, please designate Fellowship Square for donations
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Watch our communities
in action on our
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We post articles, updates on activities and events, our monthly newsletter, and pertinent information regarding our properties. |
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