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Greetings to you all! We hope you, your family and friends are keeping well.
 
Coming up to Thanksgiving we have been reflecting on all we have to be thankful for this year, even during this pandemic.

Firstly, we are filled with gratitude that everyone in our homes and programs are healthy and well!

We are so thankful to our Core Members, assistants, leadership team and Board who have worked so hard to ensure that everyone has remained well and protected from COVID-19.

We are appreciative of all the visits, calls, takeout and delivered dinners, and the many connections made with our homes and program participants, by community members, volunteers, family and neighbours. We are beyond gratified to all the volunteers who drove assistants to and from work to ensure their safety, and for the volunteers who helped make and purchase personal protective equipment when we needed to ensure we had it in place, or to raise funds for L'Arche Toronto.

We are also extremely indebted to all the donors who have stepped up to help us at this time, whether it was monetarily, with their time or through their business. For example, thanks go to The Goods and the Royal Bank who provided healthy food and beverages for the homes and to Adamson's BBQ who delivered a BBQ lunch to each home early in the pandemic. Thank you to our famous neighbour, Julian Taylor who performed our first-ever virtual concert and the many sponsors who helped us to raise much needed funds through this event.

We are also thankful for the beautiful summer we just had, as we have been able to spend plenty of socially-distanced time outside in the fresh air. And fall is looking good too, so far!! As one of our wonderful monthly donors wrote "hope you're all enjoying the spectacular autumn colours we're seeing everywhere. It certainly invites us to get out there and walk, take in the smells, and the rustle of falling leaves."

We truly have much to be grateful for!!! Thank you.

We wish you all a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving!!
Mutual Giving
by Jane Powell and Joe Egan
 
When Susan Zimmerman died last April we thought a lot about gratitude. Susan was very grateful for her life even though many of us realized it was quite limited and painful at times. One of the things that clearly marked her life was her gratitude for L’Arche. She expressed that it gave her a place to be where she could live out her core values, especially trusting in God and caring for others.
 
It was of prime importance to her to be part of a community. She helped to articulate our vision and name practical ways of living out that vision in the day to day during L'Arche's early days in Canada. When no longer able to participate actively in L'Arche, Susan held L’Arche and many of us individually in prayer, especially when she knew things were difficult. She saw this as her way of continuing to support L’Arche and its members. 
 
Susan was convinced that L’Arche was a place where mutual relationships are central and where we help each other to grow in many different ways. She recognized that people with disabilities can change us for the better and that we can enhance their lives as well.
 
Because of her deep gratitude for L’Arche Susan left a generous bequest to our community for which we in turn are very grateful.
Join us on Thursday, October 29th
starting at 7 pm on ZOOM or Facebook Live
for our annual Harvest Howl Open Mic

Please join us for the Harvest Howl Open Mic for L'Arche Toronto Sol Express, virtually this year. The Harvest Howl is our annual fundraiser for the Sol Express creative arts and performance program which is not government funded.

The Harvest Howl is a fun filled evening of music, dancing, acts and community building! Join us on ZOOM or Facebook Live @larchetoronto

We are beyond thankful to our sponsors -- Park Property Management, Govan Brown, CHAMP Engineering, Refined Corporate Finishes and Medprodirect. We are so appreciative of the continued sponsorship of the Harvest Howl Open Mic for Sol Express.

Check our website www.larchetoronto.org/sol-express for updates as the month goes along. You will be able to enjoy Dinner and Show options featuring a delivered meal from one of our wonderful local restaurants which we want to support during this time. If you would like to perform an act of less than five minutes please email [email protected] using HARVEST HOWL in the subject line.
Fifth Annual Twist n' Sip

Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold an in-person Twist n' Sip fundraiser this year, as we had hoped. However, please do keep your eyes peeled for the Twist n' Sip Virtual 'Finale' Concert in late November.

We will be joined by Lester McLean, lead vocals and sax, and Michael Occhipinti, guitar, of Grooveyard who will play some tunes for everyone at L'Arche Toronto online via ZOOM and Facebook Live!

Please support your L'Arche Toronto friend or home connection now at this LINK to ensure L'Arche Toronto's programming.
For over 45 years, the L'Arche Toronto community has brought to life the mission of L'Arche, where women and men, with and without intellectual disabilities, share life in community by engaging with a wide circle of family, friends and neighbours.

L'Arche Toronto provides homes and supports for daily living, employment and volunteer placements, and community participation. We also offer Sol Express, a creative and performance arts program, and Trying It on For Size (TIFS), a life skills program. L'Arche Toronto helps persons with intellectual disabilities discover their gifts and abilities, and supports them to achieve their goals for a meaningful life.

L'Arche Toronto is a member of the International Federation of L'Arche. Founded in 1964, there are now 153 communities in 38 countries. www.larchetoronto.org

Please keep connected by following L'Arche Toronto on social media!