A Yes Makes Belonging Possible
Sometimes belonging begins with a single visit.
Nearly two years ago, Esther joined us for the house blessing of our first L’Arche home. She came to celebrate a milestone, but something about the community stayed with her. What began as a visit slowly became a relationship.
Over the months that followed, Esther continued to find her way back to L’Arche. Her sons volunteered to help with yardwork, caring for the home where adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities share daily life with assistants. In June, her family joined us for the Run, Walk, & Roll, celebrating a community where everyone has a place. With each visit, the connection grew a little deeper.
Then Esther learned about a different kind of need.
It takes approximately $33,000 each month to provide the staffing, care, transportation, programs, and support that make L’Arche home. Medicaid funding and resident fees cover much of that cost, but they do not fully fund the relationships that define our community. That leaves an approximately $8,000 funding gap each month.
When Esther heard about that need, she responded.
She became L’Arche North Carolina’s very first Belonging Ambassador by funding an entire month of that operating gap. Her gift helps ensure that this home continues to be a place where people are known by name, where friendships are nurtured, where meals are shared, where laughter fills the kitchen, and where every person is recognized for the gifts they bring.
Belonging is not built through extraordinary moments alone. It is cultivated through people who keep saying yes.
Yes to showing up.
Yes to serving.
Yes to helping a community flourish.
Esther’s generosity reminds us that a community of belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It is built by ordinary people who choose to show up for one another.
Her story began with attending a house blessing.
Today, because she said yes, an entire month of belonging is possible.
We are deeply grateful that Esther became our very first Belonging Ambassador, and we hope her story inspires others to discover the joy of making belonging possible for someone else.
Could You Become a Belonging Ambassador?
Like Esther, your journey does not have to begin with a major gift. It begins with saying yes to a community where every person is welcomed, needed, and belongs.
If you would like to become a Belonging Ambassador or learn more about how you, your family, your read more
Recap: A Joyous Event Filled with Community Spirit and Celebration!
If you missed the BBQ & Bingo Event last month, you missed a fun celebration! This gathering for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in support of L'Arche North Carolina, was an incredible event filled with joy and community spirit. The evening started with the tantalizing aroma of barbecued delights wafting through the air as volunteers served up a delectable feast for all attendees. We are grateful to Southern Harvest Catering and Knucklehead Barbecue for donating the delicious meal. Families, friends, and supporters gathered together, sharing laughter and stories, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere. The main highlight of the event was the lively picture bingo games. Our friends, Kyla and Maggie, called out Bingo as participants of all abilities eagerly played, their eyes filled with anticipation. Prizes were won, and cheers of celebration filled the air, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and encouragement. Our prizes were donated by local restaurants: Namu, Alpaca Charcoal Chicken, and Trophy Brewing. This event was more than a community gathering... It was a celebration! We celebrated the program space at the Bulla Center, where we hold inclusive and accessible monthly events. One read more
Tatum’s Reflection
My year at L’Arche NC has been nothing short of wonderful! I had no idea when I agreed to be the Duke Divinity intern for L’Arche NC that I would get so many amazing opportunities to do such meaningful work and get to connect with so many lovely people along the way. One of my favorite pieces of L’Arche NC is the way that we are committed to caring for the people in our programs so well. By focusing on social, educational, and spiritual aspects of people’s lives, it truly feels like L’Arche NC is committed to being in community with the fulness of every person. I got the opportunity to engage in and lead fun social events like tie- dying t-shirts at crafternoon and going to lunches and coffee with L’Arche friends. L’Arche is committed to even more than just social gatherings though, and so I also got to lead events like a book club and a panel focusing on Disability and Employment in order to educate the community about Disability rights. As a Divinity student I was also grateful for the opportunity to serve in a read more
Rooted in Community: Recap of the Plant Sale Fundraiser
Earlier this month, we had a Plant Sale Fundraiser. With your help, we raised over $2,000 for our growing community of people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. At L'Arche, we celebrate the gifts of all persons! One of many things that I loved about the Plant Sale was that this fundraiser was possible because individuals with skills in gardening shared their gifts and resources with L'Arche NC. We are beyond grateful to Eric Hastie and Heather Bixler for providing the beautiful plants for this special fundraiser. With their generosity, 100% of plant sale funds were donated to L'Arche NC. L'Arche NC is working to establish an accessible and inclusive home in the Triangle area for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Did you know that 70% of people with I/DD in North Carolina are in need of affordable housing? Our community will be more than just a place to live; it will be a home where meals are shared, friendships are formed, and quality care abounds. Check out this video from L'Arche GWDC to learn how L'Arche is an extraordinary community. Do you have a gift read more
Beverly’s Visit To L’Arche GWDC
“You had to be there.” This is the phrase we say when words cannot fully express an experience. This week I had my first L’Arche home experience. If I could, I would just say “You had to be there,” but that wouldn’t make for a very interesting read, so I’ll do my best. If you have randomly come across this blog you might not know what a L’Arche home is. L’Arche is a community where people with and without disabilities live together and support one another in community. When we first arrived at the L’Arche GWDC home in Arlington, Virginia, we parked in a beautiful neighborhood where I could immediately imagine myself spending a lot of time outside, walking down the sidewalks, and exploring the neighborhood. As we entered the house, we were greeted by a person named Alice, who briefly showed us the living room and then quickly showed us where to find snacks and drinks and told us to help ourselves during our stay. This first impression ended up being a brief example of how I felt the rest of our visit. I felt “At read more
Michael’s Story
Last summer, I had the opportunity to visit L’Arche Greater Washington D.C. (GWDC). It was wonderful to visit one of their four homes and meet the community members. One Core Member who I had the pleasure of meeting was Michael. As we were finishing up lunch, one of his friends stopped by to join him on his daily visit to McDonald's for his three cups of coffee (yes, three!). Rain, snow, or shine, he goes to McD’s for this daily treat. I learned that Michael has been doing this for decades, and if you’re selected to go with him to McDonald’s, you are one lucky friend! Everyone knows him, and on his journey around the block to the local golden arches, he is greeted by friends and neighbors along the sidewalk and at the restaurant. During my visit, I also learned that each Tuesday, L’Arche GWDC holds a weekly celebration dinner. This is an opportunity to gather as a wider community and celebrate the big (and small!) things, such as birthdays, a new haircut, holidays, and, of course, anniversaries. This year, Michael is celebrating his 40th year read more
Grateful for Partner Congregations
It's always a delight to partner with local congregations and organizations to share in the joy of inclusive and accessible community gatherings. Earlier this month, we joined Community United Church of Christ (CUCC) in Raleigh for worship. During this Lenten season, CUCC has focused on Creation Justice. Friends of L'Arche NC shared the scripture passage (John 9), and Tatum Tricarico, our Disability Theology & Justice Intern, preached a very moving and thoughtful sermon on Disability Justice. We are grateful for this opportunity to be in community again with this partner congregation to sing, pray, learn, and dance together. To view and listen to this worship service, including Tatum's amazing sermon, click HERE and select March 19. It was just one year ago, that we joined with CUCC for a very fun event to celebrate Mr. Rogers' birthday. It was an unforgettable community gathering as we made puppets, participated in hilarious improv skits, and enjoyed music and cake. Joy and love are always present at CUCC as soon as you enter their church. Our Board Chair, Stuart Harrell, also shared about L'Arche NC, and the importance of celebrating read more
Our Hearts are Full: Thank You St. Francis of Assisi Church
On Friday, March 17, we gathered with St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Raleigh for the Stations of the Cross: Disability Justice. Our Disability Theology & Justice Intern from Duke Divinity School, Tatum Tricarico, wrote reflections for each station that included joys and sorrows from a Disability perspective in connection to Jesus' journey to the cross. Participants were invited to notice the unique ways that God is at work with and through the Disabled Community. As we traveled through the stations together in solidarity with Disabled people, we prayed to move beyond the Ableism and discrimination that are often present in society. If you missed this gathering, we will offer the Stations of the Cross: Disability Justice again as a virtual gathering on Zoom on April 4 at 7:00pm. Click here for more information. At the gathering, St. Francis presented a $25,000 donation to L’Arche NC to support the establishment of our first residential home in the Triangle area! This donation is half of their three-year pledge to support L’Arche NC and our mission to create an inclusive and dignified community. We are incredibly grateful for the read more
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