Thanksgiving in a New Home by Andy and Frances

December 11, 2019

Frances and I have been close friends for a long time, which makes writing this letter together such a joy. We have also been working together as Board member and Executive Director to reimagine what L’Arche can be in the world today. As a result, at L’Arche Portland people with and without intellectual disabilities can now share life and build a community that supports friendships for life, no matter where people live. 
 
Together, Frances and I are excited to share some news. Through the leadership and support of dedicated community members, partners, and friends like you, we are celebrating the opening of a new home and our community’s increased ability to support friends who live outside of our homes. Frances and I are grateful for the ways that L’Arche Portland supports our friendship, and we ask for your support to make friendships like ours available to more people. 

On Thanksgiving, a home that sat vacant for over a year was full of laughter, the buzz of new friendships, reunions with old friends, and a bounty of food. The founding members of our newest home, who only began moving in last month, hosted L’Arche Portland’s annual Thanksgiving potluck. It was a joyous and emotional occasion. Housemates welcomed their L’Arche friends from our Nehalem and Neahkahnie homes, long-time members who usually join us for holidays, and their own friends and family. Parker cooked the turkey, Susan carved it, Marilyn led us in prayer, Dena coordinated the food, Nick welcomed people into his new home, and everyone enjoyed a shared meal around our four dinner tables.  It was perfect. 
 
This holiday season Frances and I are grateful for a new L’Arche home. Will you invest in L’Arche Portland so that our newest home can become a place of welcome and that the people 
living there are provided with the support they need to thrive?