Hi *{{Informal Name}}*, 

As we step into this new season, we are reminded that hope is something we build together. It grows in small, everyday moments of care, in friendships that continue to deepen, and in the ways we choose to show up for one another.

At L’Arche Portland, we know that we are in this together. Hope is not just something we hold onto. It is something we live out in community, creating spaces where each person is known, valued, and belongs.

This spring, we are excited to gather for a special event centered on that very spirit of hope, and we would love for you to be part of it.

On Saturday, May 16, from 2-4 PM, L’Arche Portland will host Hungry for Hope, our Spring Speaker Series fundraising event. We are honored to welcome Sister Simone Campbell as our guest speaker, a nationally recognized advocate whose lifelong work for justice, dignity, and immigration reform has inspired communities across the country. As the former leader of the Nuns on the Bus movement, Sister Simone has spent decades advocating alongside those who are too often overlooked, and her work was recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

During this gathering, she will offer reflections on hope, compassion, and the power of community.

In a time when so many are experiencing uncertainty and division, Hungry for Hope is an invitation to come back to what matters most.

After the program, we will share time together over coffee and treats, creating space to connect more deeply with one another and with the wider community.

On MLK Day, our spaces were transformed with the help of generous volunteers, including University of Portland women’s soccer players, nurses, and the Bora Architecture team, who brought energy, care, and fresh coats of paint to our walls.

We were lucky enough to welcome the L’Arche USA team to Neahkahnie House to share lunch and connect with L’Arche beyond Portland.

Each week, our dear friend David Perry visits, bringing joy through simple moments of crafting, reading stories, and being present with core members. He is the king of making cards!

We celebrated Two Big Birthdays! One at Topgolf, and one at Gabriel House, where friends came out to share in the fun and spend time together!

University of Portland students Maleah and Arjun are a weekly gift to Gabriel House, from vision boards and cooking, to moving furniture and touching up paint.

Spring showers made it the perfect time to gather in the Art Studio, creating beautiful pieces alongside the best fuzzy assistant.

A New Accessible Van has brought greater ease to daily life - from outings and appointments to studio days and adventures. A removable front seat allows a wheelchair to safely secure up front, so some core members can now ride in the front for the first time ever. It has been a joy to see!

We are working toward building a New Accessible Front Porch and Ramp at Gabriel House, with hopes to complete it by October. The current ramp has begun to rot and become unsafe, so it will be redesigned and replaced!

Thanks to a generous $10,000 grant from the Robert and Mary Jane Smith Foundation, we are on our way, and are continuing to raise the remaining $15,000 needed to complete the project. 

This June, Neahkahnie House will receive a long awaited Kitchen Renovation while the house is away at Regional Gathering. This incredible gift will truly transform the heart of the home.

We are deeply grateful for a very generous anonymous lead donor who is making this project possible through their significant support, as well as for the incredible $10,000 gift from St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, which is helping carry us across the finish line on the main portions of the remodel.

The kitchen will be renewed with fresh paint, updated appliances, new floors, refinished cabinets, new countertops, and needed sink repairs. We are deeply grateful for the care and support that is making this renewal possible.

As we look ahead, there are still a number of finishing touches that will help make the space fully functional and welcoming. From cooking utensils and pots and pans to new storage for the med nook and updated window coverings, these details will help bring the kitchen back to life.

If you would like to support the completion of this project, we would be so grateful.

Thank you for helping us continue to create a place of home, shared meals, and belonging.

Spring Dance:

Tomorrow! Friday, March 27, from 5-8 PM at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. 1535 NE 17th Ave Portland, OR 97232

All are welcome. Pizza and nonalcoholic drinks will be provided! RSVPs are encouraged (not required).

First and Third Thursdays:

We are excited about our new rhythm of hosting monthly gatherings open to all on the first and third Thursdays at 6pm. The next Circle of Light is at Neahkahnie House on April 2

And the next Craft Night is at Gabriel House on May 21. Come get creative with friends!

Dinner is shared at both events.

Movie Filming:

Around Easter, we will welcome the EverAble film crew into our homes for several days to capture stories from core members, assistants, and close community members, reflecting on what spirituality means to them.

Over the next four months, the crew is traveling across country in an RV, to listen to “Sacred Stories” of faith, friendship, community, and shared life, in over 20 L’Arche communities. 

The interviews will feed into a feature-length documentary that lifts up the spiritual wisdom and lived experiences of L’Arche members. We are honored to be one of the communities included, and are so excited to see our community and its stories shared in this way!

Invitation to Our Easter Potluck:

On Sunday, April 5 from 12-2pm, Neahkahnie House will host an Easter brunch potluck. All are welcome to join us for this special time together. Please RSVP below so we know what you plan to bring. 

Preparing for Regional Gathering:

This summer, we are preparing for our Regional Gathering, something we have not experienced together since 2019. In L’Arche, this is what we think of as a “family reunion,” a time when communities come together to share life in a deeper way. 

We will gather for several days at the University of Puget Sound, sharing meals, activities, moments of joy, and times of reflection. Old friends will reconnect and new friendships will take shape. This year, everyone from both of our homes will attend, along with as many assistants as we are able to bring. 

As you can imagine, the cost can be a barrier. It is about $500 per person to attend. If you feel moved to support this experience, we invite you to consider sponsoring or contributing toward a core member or assistant’s participation.

Your support helps make it possible for our community to gather, celebrate, and be reminded that we are part of something much bigger. Thank you for being part of that.

Growing Our Community:

At L’Arche Portland, our homes are shaped by relationships. We always hope to grow those relationships and stay connected with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who might be interested in being part of life in our community, now or in the future.

We are beginning to more intentionally build connections with individuals and families who are curious about L’Arche, so that when openings do arise in our homes, we are able to respond with care, thoughtfulness, and continuity for everyone involved.

This approach helps us remain a stable and welcoming community through times of transition, while continuing to support the core members and assistants who share daily life together.

If you or someone you know might be interested in learning more about life at L’Arche Portland, we would love to connect.

Thank you for the many ways you are part of this community. Your presence matters more than you know. In a world that can feel uncertain, you help make hope tangible through relationship, care, and shared life. We invite you to continue journeying with us at L’Arche Portland.

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