1. How old do you have to be to come to MA events?

We are a community of adults. Generally speaking, we consider someone to be an adult once they are post-high school. Many of our friends receive public school services through the the age of 22, so therefore, most of our friends are 22 and up. However, there are post-high school members of our community who are not yet 22.

Note: If you are still in high school and looking for this type of community, we would encourage you to check out Roanoke Valley Capernaum.

2. Do you have to have a disability to come to MA events?

Absolutely not. We were created to ensure that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities would have community and not be isolated, but we are a community for friends of ALL abilities.

3. I have a disability and would like to join your community, but I’m worried that my disability might not be significant enough/too significant. Will I fit in?

EVERYONE fits in at Masterpiece Alliance! We are a community for friends of ALL abilities and disabilities. We represent a diverse spectrum of people. Come check us out. You’ll find a way to serve others and be served at the same time. We promise you our friends will make you feel right at home.

4. How often does the whole MA community get together?

We usually have 1 large group event per week or 4 events per month. During the summer we usually get together as a large group 2 or 3 times per month.

5. What types of events does Masterpiece Alliance host?

Twice a month - typically every other Thursday - we have MA Club. MA Club is usually held at various local partner churches. It includes pizza, a Biblical message, games, and karaoke. Through MA Club we are able to invite friends into our community.

We have 2 other large group events per month. These events vary and can include activities such as bowling, movies, baseball games, and fishing.

Each summer we host a 3-day Summer Day Camp.

Our staff spends a considerable portion of its time hanging out with our Community Members outside of our events in order to build deeper friendships.

6. Why doesn’t MA charge people to attend its weekly events?

We believe strongly in the importance of community and don’t want money to ever cause someone to remain isolated. We are a non-profit, and there are many generous donors supporting us and making our mission possible. We also have many churches in the area who choose to host us free of charge and provide pizza for all of our friends.

It should be noted that sometimes we attend events that have an inherent cost. For example, if we go to a movie the members of our community buy their tickets and food. However, if someone is unable to afford the event we are usually able to find the resources to sponsor that person.

7. My adult son, adult daughter, or the adult I care for has an intellectual or developmental disability and would like to attend MA Club. What do I need to do?

We send out event notices with a sign up link via email, text, and social media. So first, be sure to sign him or her up. And when you do, be sure to let us know anything we need to know to properly serve our friend’s needs.

Next, please feel welcome to stick around for the event. Get a sense of who we are and how our community works. Eat some pizza and join in, or just sit in the back and observe. Either way, we know you’ll love being around the MA Community.

Once you get a sense of how well the person you care for does with us we can figure out together if additional supports are needed so that you can feel comfortable dropping him or her off and having some time to yourself.