Cafe to be served by gifts of people with developmental disabilities
WINNIPEG, MB—As part of its mandate "to make known the gifts of people with developmental disabilities," L'Arche Winnipeg has opened a cafe that will provide work opportunities for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
The L'Arche Tova Cafe will officially open on Tuesday, April 3. Located at 119 Regent Ave. West, the cafe is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a menu that focuses on simple items like all-day breakfast, soup, salads and sandwiches.
"The idea is for [customers] to meet people with developmental disabilities," says Jim Lapp, the community leader at L'Arche Winnipeg.
"If you start doing research about the state of people with developmental disabilities around the world, it's not a very good picture. They're probably the most exploited, abused people around the world. Their human rights are in jeopardy. In Canada, things are better [for them], but even then, people are socially isolated."
"We just want to share their gifts with other people," he adds.
The cafe was made possible in part because of a generous donation from Larry and Tova Vickar. The cafe is therefore named Tova, which is a Hebrew word meaning "good."
The L'Arche Winnipeg community includes 28 people with a developmental disability who are living in six houses and two supported-living apartments, with approximately 20 assistants.
The cafe is located in Transcona, just like four of the houses, the apartments and L'Arche's office.
People can view the cafe's menu online by visiting www.larchewinnipeg.org/larche-cafe.
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