The Christmas Tree Sale and "Becoming Human" are almost here. Plus some beautiful videos!
L'Arche in Portland

What does a relationship of mutuality look lik e in L'Arche? Ben and Ilana, with the help of videographer Joe Kuffner, talk about their personal connection, life in L'Arche, and what each of them brings to this special relationship. Enjoy!


Core members, assistants and office staff gathered for a day of reflection on the topic of Belonging. Stacy Cates-Carney, former community leader of L'Arche Tahoma Hope, facilitated.


We are excited to announce our 27th Annual Christmas Tree Sale,  Nov. 20 to Dec. 20.

With two convenient tree lots in the Hollywood and Montavilla neighborhoods, you're sure to find a great tree and help L'Arche Portland transform the lives of people with and without intellectual disabilities. Our trees are locally grown and freshly cut, featuring a wide variety of Noble, Douglas, Grand, and Nordmann firs from tabletop to 10 feet.

During this season of giving, remember to purchase your tree from L'Arche Portland, and help keep our homes warm in winter, lit in darkness and alive with hospitality!

We depend on the support of over 100 dedicated volunteers through the season to make this tree sale possible.  Help make the season bright for L'Arche Portland by offering your time for a 3-4 hour daily, weekly or one-time shift. Now offering online shift sign-up, so don't hesitate -- click one of the links below to get in the spirit of giving!


Becoming Human on November 15
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
4:30pm - 6:00pm
University of Portland
Chiles Center, Hall of Fame Room

We invite you to join us for a community discussion exploring the concept of "Becoming Human", as introduced by the founder of L'Arche, Jean Vanier, and the challenges and opportunities that it presents us in our lives.  This event is a collaboration between L'Arche Portland, the Garaventa Center: Center for Catholic Intellectual Life and American Culture, and the Franz Center for Leadership.

In the face of threats of power outages and monster winds, our supporters braved Saturday's crazy weather to come through for 

Deepest gratitude towards our community of supporters for opening your hearts and your wallets in support of L'Arche Portland. Your generosity yielded a record breaking night, bringing in over $77,500, including $2,700 in financial aid for L'Arche communities around the world. We watched three amazing videos to help tell the story of L'Arche, including  "Joni" "Sharing the Journey: Ben and Ilana" , and  "Let the Birds Loose" . Follow the links to watch them again!

Thank You To Our Event Sponsors


Events and Celebrations
Please join us at an upcoming event! For more details, or to RSVP, call us at 503-251-6901 or email rsvp@larche-portland.org .

Simple Supper and Prayer Night
Neahkahnie House
First Wednesdays 11/2, 12/2 5-7 PM

Dessert with L'Arche
Alternates between homes
Most Second Thursdays 11/10, 12/8 6:45-8 PM

Taize Prayer
Third Thursdays 11/17, 12/15, 6:45-7:45 PM

Special Event: Becoming Human
University of Portland
Tuesday, 11/15 4:30-6:00 PM

Birthdays:
11/8 Aaron Flores, live-out assistant
11/11 Mary Lou Betzing, assoc. member
11/18 Frances Sexton, board member
11/21 Andy Noethe, community leader
11/22 Alison Hilkiah, assoc. member
11/27 Michael Schmidtke, assistant
11/28 Fredeliz Misay, assistant
12/8  Michelle Garafolo, Jesuit volunteer
12/16 Joni Smith, core member

Anniversaries:
11/5 Erin Wheeler

 
L'Arche in the USA

Five L'Arche communities gathered in Portland in June for three days of stories, mutual relationship, and celebration of the unique gifts of every person. 


L'Arche Chicago Community Life Director, Luca Badetti, presented at the Summer Institute on Theology and Disability. Badetti was invited to give the Jean Vanier Emerging Scholar Lecture based on his doctoral work on community and self-determination.
L'Arche in the World

Nagat from L'Arche Egypt explains how she and her brother faced society's attempts to disable their humanity. 

As an aside, many communities across the world receive little to no state funding. L'Arche Portland supporters raised $2,700 at our Benefit Celebration for international financial aid for communities like L'Arche Egypt! Thank you!


Hurricane Matthew caused widespread devastation in Haiti last month, and the L'Arche community in Chantal was not spared.

The community is sorting out the most urgent needs, but will require help to rebuild.
The second house has at last re-opened, following makeshift repairs to the roofs. Before we can think about re-constructing the workshop, there is a mountain of debris to clear up, although we have already erected an outdoor shelter. The community needs your support to gradually get back on its feet, given that their own daily routine has been thrown into chaos, and also the major challenges facing the whole area.

The community has been very grateful for the people who have come to help, and for the prayers and financial support of friends around the world.  To date, close to 20,000€ has come in financial support. The need in the short term remains significant, estimated at 35,000. We also know that the community will, soon, need to consider rebuilding or perhaps even moving. As we consider this, a reconstruction budget is being prepared. The people of L'Arche Chantal are still in shock, and they are also living a sort of repetition syndrome, as this disaster has come only 6 years after the earthquake of 2010 which seriously affected the other community in Haiti, L'Arche Carrefour. Thank you for your continued support!

Ways to Support L'Arche Portland 

There are many ways to be present in our community, and multiple ways to support our mission while going about your daily business.

Become a monthly sustainer today!  L'Arche Portland raises a full 43% of our budget, and you can join a growing group of supporters who sustain the critical work of building a community of mutual relationship and belonging for people with and without intellectual disabilities.

Link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to L'Arche Portland.  If you're already signed up, thank you! We ask that you  verify that we are still your charity of choice as Fred Meyer recently changed their policy to require participants to "renew" yearly. 

Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible AmazonSmile purchase to L'Arche Portland whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. Think about combining Amazon Smile donations with Giving Assistant to maximize your impact!
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