[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF LAKE RIDGE FELLOWSHIP 
                                 HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 5, 2008

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor the 25th anniversary of the Lake Ridge Fellowship 
on June 7, 2008.
  Located in Woodbridge, Virginia, this affordable housing development 
opened its doors in June 1983. Today the Lake Ridge Fellowship House 
serves over one hundred seniors on fixed incomes. Four out of five 
residents are women, many are widows who have lost a breadwinner's 
pension and a lifelong companion. Lake Ridge fills a unique niche in 
the Woodbridge area by supplying elderly residents with a safe 
environment in which they can enjoy recreational, educational and 
community-oriented activities. The Fellowship House is a vibrant 
example of community activism that should be replicated in other parts 
of the country.
  Additionally, Lake Ridge provides affordable housing to both 
independent and mobility-impaired individuals. It offers secure and 
stable residences for seniors, thereby safeguarding citizens who might 
otherwise be unable to fully fend for themselves. In addition, Lake 
Ridge hosts arts and crafts, social activities, and boasts quiet 
reading alcoves. To better assist its mobility-impaired residents, the 
fellowship house provides transportation to and from local shopping 
areas.
  Lake Ridge is one of only four privately owned fellowship houses in 
Virginia that are operated by the Fellowship Square Foundation, a 
subsidiary of the Lutheran Church. Sponsored by the Lutheran Lay 
Fellowship organization, it is a shining example of how the power of 
faith is used to fulfill a wide range of needs in our communities.
  Madam Speaker, Lake Ridge Fellowship House is more than mere housing; 
it is the foundation of a rich and meaningful way of life for hundreds 
of senior citizens. In closing, I would like to congratulate Lake Ridge 
Fellowship House for providing twenty years of selfless commitment to 
Northern Virginia, and I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating 
their 25th anniversary.

                          ____________________