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Fellowship Square provides affordable housing and services for older adults. |
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Vaccinations Begin for Residents
Meet Our Partner: Southway
Christy's Corner
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Resident Life
Community Partner Spotlight
We Need Reviews
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Fellowship Square Residents Receive their First Vaccinations! |
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The 800+ seniors living in Fellowship Square’s Virginia and Maryland communities have started to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. The first dose was administered to residents at Lake Anne Fellowship House on January 18.
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Southway is a regional construction company and truly honored to be working with Fellowship Square on the multiphase renovation to Hunters Woods Fellowship House.
Southway was founded 30 years ago with a vision to provide quality construction services for affordable housing developers and has grown into a sought-after construction management firm built on integrity. Over half of our revenue stream still consists of affordable housing projects. Our expertise also spans a variety of commercial projects with a focus on urban redevelopment and expansion, a majority of which involve rehabilitation of older, often times historic, buildings.
While our team is passionate about construction, we also take great pride in being actively engaged in the communities in which we live and work. Our philanthropic efforts support corporate social responsibility through our Charitable Giving Committee and the Southway Charitable Trust.
Southway was pleased to support Fellowship Square as its Anniversary Sponsor at its recent celebration this past December and looks forward to continuing our great partnership as we move onto this new year. Congratulations on 60 years of commitment and hard work providing quality, affordable housing to seniors!
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Fellowship Square received word that we are approved as a vaccination site for both Walgreens and CVS’s national partnership of the vaccine roll-out. Just last week, 226 residents from Lake Anne Fellowship House and 80 at Lake Ridge Fellowship House were vaccinated; and on February 11, we have 200 residents signed up for vaccines at hunters Woods Fellowship House; and 58 residents are signed up for vaccinations on February 23 at Largo Landing Fellowship House. In total, this represents 75% of all Fellowship House residents.
This news has brought a big sigh of relief to Fellowship House residents who have been waiting patiently, but anxiously for months on a vaccine. A recent article published by The Good Samaritan Society outlines many of the steps involved in getting this vaccine to market – and delivering on the hope that we all need.
While the roll-out has had some stumbles locally and nationwide, we are well underway to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Nothing could be more important than making sure our residents have access to treatments and healthcare that will keep them healthy and safe as we continue to weather the pandemic storm.
A lot of hard work by staff went into securing these vaccinations and I’m so proud and thankful for everyone on our team. They stepped up to the challenge and pushed through successfully.
Remember, every one of us can do something to help. Consider how you can get involved in the work we do and be a part of our extended team who can provide some support to our residents and the organization overall. Non-profits like Fellowship Square do not operate in a vacuum – we need everyone at the table to help support the 800+ vulnerable seniors that live at Fellowship House.
Please reach out and let us know how you may be able to support us in the coming months. I hope to count you as one of many on our incredible team. Thank you!
In gratitude,
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Staying Active During COVID
Dasha Soldatenkov
Interview by Tatiana Cherry-Santos, Intern
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Dasha Soldatenkov, a Hunters Woods Resident, moved to the United States when she was eleven years old from Moscow, Russia. Her family is comprised of her parents and a younger sister. Since coming to the US, Dasha has lived in Maryland, Delaware and now Virginia where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Mason University in 2005 having taken classes in Sociology, Criminology, Psychology and Russian.
Upon graduation, Dasha started her journey in social work and volunteering for her community. During her time volunteering for Russian communities, Dasha was “interviewed in many Russian media outlets” and described as “the best volunteer for Russian Cultural events.” Earlier in her career she worked as a telehealth technician, a rehab aide for physical therapy, a home health aide, and she taught courses for candidates pursuing their Personal Care Aide (PCA) certification. In 2014, Dasha continued her healthcare education as a certified nursing aide and a certified telemedicine/telehealth professional. In 2020, she proudly received her telemedicine/telehealth professional (CTTP) certification from Global Health Access Institute. Not only has she worked in health care, she has also worked in retail for twelve years holding managerial positions throughout.
Dasha is one of the youngest residents at Hunters Woods Fellowship House. She moved into the community in June of 2020, at the age of 39, after having volunteered for Fellowship Square multiple times and was named volunteer of the year in 2014. She explained how an ‘invisible disability’ has hindered her since early adolescence has continued to present challenges for her everyday life. Her early educational career was spent among groups of 5 or 6 other students where she says she felt like an ‘oddball.’ “It’s like the quote on Forest Gump. Life is like a box of chocolates — you don’t know what you’ll get,” and Dasha made it clear that you cannot judge a book by its cover.
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Community Partners Go the Extra Mile
RestonStrong, Reston Foodies
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Volunteers delivering the restaurant meals to Lake Anne Fellowship House |
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As we closed out the year 2020, Lake Anne Fellowship House residents and staff were surprised with 300 meals and servings of frozen custard thanks to donors and volunteers from RestonStrong and Reston Foodies. The meals and dessert were provided by local restaurants (Kalypso’s Sports Tavern, Café Montmartre, Willard’s Real Pit BBQ, Deli Italiano, Side Street & Sushi Bar by I-Thai, and Kiln & Custard) and paid for by Reston Foodies and RestonStrong. Thanks also to Dogma Bakery who helped surprise pets with goodies and toys.
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Lake Anne Fellowship House residents gratefully receiving meals. |
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Fellowship Square is Pleased to
Welcome our New Community Partner
The Washington, DC Chapter of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO)
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As Fellowship House managers resumed regular maintenance checks this fall, staff noticed several residents with an overabundance of clutter which can be a health and safety concern. Fellowship Square reached out to the officers of the DC chapter of NAPO for assistance… and in turn representatives from the chapter provided a panel presentation to residents with tips for reducing clutter and getting organized. Several NAPO members have expressed interest in assisting Fellowship House residents and conversations continue about the best ways to safely work together during COVID. |
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Slides from NAPO panel presentation. |
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For more information on how YOU can become a Community Partner, please contact Judy Singer, Director of Development, at jsinger@fellowshipsquare.org or 703-860-2569.
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We Need Reviews!
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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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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