Description
L’Arche Tahoma Hope began in Tacoma in 1977. "Tahoma" gives reference to the native people’s name for Mt. Rainier, which dominates our horizon on bright days, and hope is in recognition of our desire for our life together to be a 'sign of hope’ in our world. Our community is comprised of four homes, a day activity program and a Farm based group supported employment program. At the heart of our community are relationships between people with developmental disabilities and those who share life with them.
Each home has a personality of its own and ranges in size from five to ten people (assistants and core members). The mission of our Farm & Gardens, our group supported employment program, is to create and sell quality products (plants and crafts), support purposeful work for people with developmental disabilities, and foster a spirit of caring for land and people. It is an integrated setting where people of a variety of abilities and gifts, whether core member, assistant or volunteer is affirmed in his or her dignity, self worth and connection to all of life. The motto of the Farm is "growing people, growing plants." Noah’s Workshop encompasses a day activity program and individual employment supports. We actively seek engagement with individuals and organizations in our local community.
In our community life each person is encouraged to contribute according to his/her gifts, to welcome opportunities for growth and to share work and life with others in a spirit of cooperation. It is a rich and challenging life and we are sustained by our mutual relationships and trust in God.
