L’Arche Stratford has raised $4 million of its $6.5 million goal for the ‘Be Belong Become’ capital campaign.
Fundraising chair Dennis Goforth says the milestone is a huge achievement for the L’Arche community.
“In our 51-year history, we have never had a capital campaign. This new community hub for adults with developmental disabilities will provide generational change with housing and supervised activities in the greater Stratford area.”
He added the new community hub for adults with developmental disabilities will provide generational change with housing and supervised activities in the greater Stratford area.
He added the hard work by him and his team will continue. The housing demand for developmentally disabled adults continues to grow. In 2021-22 L’Arche received nearly 500 requests for residential help but could only meet 11, or three per cent of them.
“We need to appeal to the public because it’s great we have reached this level (but) we have a long way to go. It’s always the last leg of the race that can be the toughest.”
The capital campaign will see the construction of a new community hub at 426 Britannia Street in Stratford. The 15,000 sq. ft. centre will provide eight new supported independent living units, increasing L’Arche Stratford’s capacity by 65 per cent and reducing the waitlist for service by 30 per cent.
Site plans for the property on 426 Britannia have been submitted to the City of Stratford for approval. Once approval is granted the tendering process for contractors will begin with the hope of beginning to dig a foundation soon.
The next fundraising event for the capital campaign will be the 9th Annual Walk N’ Roll with L’Arche on October 19th at the Upper Queen’s Park Bandshell.
