Help Anchor our Community of Belonging
Hello L’Arche NC Friends –
In 2011, a small group came together with a dream: to build a community where people with and without intellectual disabilities could share life, friendship, and belonging.
That dream became L’Arche North Carolina. Fourteen years later, we’ve opened our first home in Durham and continue to host vibrant gatherings across the Triangle where we witness how belonging transforms lives. Whether I’m at the house or a Together event, I see relationships forming that defy isolation.
L’Arche GWDC recently released a beautiful short film, On Loneliness, reminding us that the antidote to loneliness is friendship across differences. I can’t watch it without getting goosebumps—because it reflects what we see and experience at L’Arche NC every day.
This July, in honor of our first meeting L’Arche NC meeting, we’re inviting 20 new monthly donors—our L’Arche Anchors—to join us. We need your help and commitment to continue this work of building belonging.
Would you consider committing to giving $10 a month?
$10/month ($120/year) may seem small—but in community, small gifts multiply. Here’s what it can do:
- Provides craft materials for friends at our monthly Craft Together gathering—supporting inclusive art and expression.
- Purchases birthday or celebration supplies, helping ensure every person is honored and celebrated.
- Buys ingredients for baking days, where Core Members and volunteers connect through the joy of making something together.
Can you commit to $100 a month?
$100/month ($1,200/year) helps create spaces of belonging in big ways.
- Covers the cost of an entire Community Dinner—feeding 15–20 people and offering a warm, welcoming space where friendships grow.
- Funds accessible transportation, ensuring Core Members can access medical appointments, work, and social activities.
- Helps us welcome new Core Members, Assistants, and volunteers, providing orientation materials, training, and the intentional support needed for deep, mutual relationships to flourish.
Or, sign up for whatever monthly gift feels right to you to help L’Arche NC build a community where strangers become friends and joy is abundant.
To become a L’Arche Anchor and commit to a monthly gift, click the button below to make a donation. On the donation page, select the box, “Show my support by making this a recurring donation.”
In Community,
Laura Steed Lorino
Executive Director & Community Leader
P.S. Please take a few minutes out of your day and watch the video below from L’Arche GWDC. If you’ve never been to L’Arche or experienced the belonging we often talk about at L’Arche, you’ll see and hear it in action.
“I’m Happy!” – A Story About Belonging
Hello L'Arche Friends - Recently, I was driving one of our Core Members to one of his regular weekly activities. The moment he got in the car, he looked at me, beaming, and said, "I'm happy!" I smiled and replied, "Right on!" Without missing a beat, he declared again: "I'm happy! I'm with my friend. The sun is shining! God woke me up today! I'm happy!" That moment has stayed with me ever since. It was simple, profound, and contagious. His joy wasn’t dependent on anything fancy—just friendship, sunshine, and the gift of another day. Since then, I’ve borrowed his exclamation for my own morning mantra. Before checking email or pouring my coffee, I try to begin with those same words: "I'm happy. I'm with my friends. God woke me up today." At L’Arche North Carolina, joy shows up in unexpected places. Since I began working here in 2021, I’ve seen time and again how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not only recipients of care, but givers of joy, connection, and purpose. Each of our four Core Members brings light into our community in a way that can’t help read more
Together, for Access, Inclusion, and Belonging
Many of you may be wondering what the proposed federal spending cuts to Medicaid could mean for individuals with disabilities and for our L'Arche community. What Do Medicaid Cuts Mean for L’Arche NC? They put inclusion, dignity, and access at risk—and we need your voice today. Medicaid isn’t just a line in the budget. For L’Arche North Carolina, it’s over $280,000 in essential funding that helps keep our new home open, staffed, and thriving. Cuts to this support would directly threaten the services that allow people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live in safe, supportive, and inclusive communities. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid provides vital health coverage to millions of people with disabilities. When that funding is reduced, so is access to care, housing, and community life. We’re asking you to act today—because advocacy matters. Use The Arc’s simple online form (linked below) to contact your representatives. Tell them why Medicaid matters to you, and why people with disabilities deserve continued access to the support and services they rely on. Make Your Voice Heard – Take Action Now! It only read more
Gifts don’t grow alone—they grow in community!
L’Arche was founded with Christian roots, and today, L'Arche NC is a nonfaith organization that welcomes people of all backgrounds. We partner with a wide range of religious and social organizations, which helps us live out our vision of being an inclusive community of communities. At L’Arche NC, we recognize that people of every belief system and tradition seek meaning, purpose, and belonging—and we strive to create a space where everyone feels at home. Last Sunday, friends of L'Arche North Carolina joined Edenton Street UMC for worship. It was a beautiful Spring morning to share in community together. I had the honor of sharing a sermon; it was my first time doing so since L'Arche NC welcomed our Core Members and Assistants to move into the house. The lectionary text for the Sunday was Luke 13:1-9, the parable of the barren fig tree. I've copied my sermon below; or, you can watch the YouTube clip, which also includes our L'Arche friends reading some of the prayers (beginning at 20:00), scripture, and assisting with communion. Loving God, thank You for the gift of community – help us to read more
Brunch was a bunch of fun!
We are overjoyed to share that our first Brunch & Belonging event was an incredible success! The room was packed, and the spirit of community was truly palpable. We were moved by heartfelt stories from the family members of two of our founding Core Members, who spoke about why they chose L’Arche and the positive impact our community has already had on their lives. Another special highlight was the presentation of our first-ever Spirit of Belonging Award, given to Warrie Evans, III. Warrie has attended an impressive 44 L’Arche events this year, and he exemplifies our mission of radical welcome. At each gathering, Warrie makes everyone feel seen and valued, often by simply asking, "How are you doing?" and listening with genuine care. Thanks to all who joined and supported us. However, we’re still short of our fundraising goal. The great news is our $30,000 match has been extended – which means any donation you make this week will be doubled! If you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time to make a powerful impact. Help us continue to grow this beautiful community by giving today. Every gift, read more
L’Arche NC House Blessing & Ribbon Cutting
We had over 90 people join us a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the L'Arche House for the House Blessing & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! We were especially grateful to have former board members, and those who helped shape this vision over a decade ago, with us at our wonderful L’Arche home south Durham. Their dedication has truly made a difference! Check out this reel on Facebook or Instagram. We were thrilled to welcome L’Arche USA staff, including Laura Giddings, the Executive Director of L'Arche USA and Thomas Marquis, Manager of Community Support & Learning. Other L'Arche communities were present for this exciting occassion, too, including Katie Miyakado from L'Arche Tacoma and Dustin Barrington from L'Arche Northern Colorado. The connections of L'Arche across the country were truly felt! Thank you to all our L’Arche friends, community partners, and supporters for, not only joining us, but making this day possible. Your presence, financial support, prayers, and many volunteers hours have made this house a home! *Special thanks to Mark Evans for capturing these photos during the ceremony. read more
Disability Pride Month – celebrate all year!
As Disability Pride Month comes to an end, we want to thank you for celebrating with us. This month has highlighted the unique gifts and contributions of individuals with disabilities, and we are grateful for your support.
In case you missed it: Sundaes on Sunday Recap
What a sweet success! Our Sundaes on Sunday event was filled with joy, laughter, and community spirit.
House Update: The renovations on the house will be completed this week!
Friends, I am so excited! The renovations on the house will be completed this week! The accessible bathroom is beautiful. The new wider entrance to the kitchen and the large electric stove are wonderful. The basement bedrooms have lovely new floors, and more! The only thing that is left is painting. As the ceilings were scraped, re-mudded, and painted during the professional asbestos abatement process, this left a large white trim around many of the rooms. Therefore, we are painting with the help of volunteers. As I walk around the L'Arche house and see the updates, I am filled with joy knowing that everyone, regardless of ability, will be able to enter the home and use the facilities. Prior these renovations, if someone used mobility aids or a wheelchair, they would have needed to be carried up the stairs into the home and into the bathroom when they needed to use it. However, with your generous support, we can now say that everyone is welcome and belongs at L'Arche NC! Thank you for making this possible. We are now in the home stretch (pun intended) of welcoming our first Core Members read more
