2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26101084D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 179

Offered February 26, 2026

Commending LOWLINC.

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Patron—Scott, P.A.

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WHEREAS, for 10 years, LOWLINC, an independent, nonprofit organization in Orange County, has provided services and support for older adults to continue living in their own homes and stay connected with their community; and

WHEREAS, LOWLINC traces its origins to early 2014, when three longtime residents of the Lake of the Woods subdivision, Mary-Jane Atwater, Jeff Flynn, and Joe Sakole, began holding regular meetings to discuss ways to help older residents of the community continue living safely and independently in their own homes; and

WHEREAS, after hosting a survey to better understand needs and service gaps, the founders of LOWLINC joined the Village to Village Network, which provides resources to help neighborhoods facilitate the village model of community support that allows adults to age in a happy, healthy, and supportive environment; and

WHEREAS, LOWLINC, also known as LOW-Living Independently in Our Community, was officially established in April 2015 and began providing services in January 2016; and

WHEREAS, LOWLINC offers a wide range of programs and services, including transportation, light home maintenance, errands, tech support, social visits, check-in calls, and referrals to other service providers; and

WHEREAS, LOWLINC organizes social activities and maintains partnerships with businesses and other service organizations to provide health, wellness, and educational opportunities that benefit all local residents, such as a monthly speaker series, vaccination clinics, and community cleanup projects; and

WHEREAS, LOWLINC has fulfilled its mission through the leadership of its board of directors, generous donations from countless individuals, families, and community partners, and the hard work of hundreds of volunteers; and

WHEREAS, in 2024, 210 LOWLINC volunteers served 168 members between the ages of 57 and 101 by completing thousands of service visits valued at $334,000 and representing more than 10,000 hours of volunteer time; and

WHEREAS, LOWLINC has earned numerous awards and accolades, including the Orange County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month award in October 2024, the 2024 Washington Area Villages Exchange Founders Award, and the 2018 Lawrence and Martha McMurtry Award for Excellence and Innovation in Community Health and Wellness from the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend LOWLINC on the occasion of its 10th anniversary of service to the residents of Lake of the Woods in Orange County; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to LOWLINC as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's success in helping adults age with dignity and stay engaged with their community.