Throughout the months of November and December, The Arc of Essex County gathered items for members of our Home Assistance Program (HAP), including 40 coat donations for children and adults, dozens of toys and gifts, and more than 500 non-perishable food items for our families.

The Adult Day Programs competed to see who could gather the most food items for the drive, and this year SYA was victorious with 203 items. For their efforts, SYA attendees and staff will enjoy a pizza party.

The Arc thanks everyone who contributed to the drives and helped make the holiday season brighter and cozier for our neediest families, including SAX LLP and the Sumas Family Foundation, who helped make sure there would be holiday gifts for every child in the program to open.

The HAP program provides services in the areas of transportation, community resources, housing, navigating school systems, recreation, and skill trainings to low-income families whose child and/or parent has an intellectual or developmental disability. The goal is to maintain the family unit, attain independence, and assist parents and families in becoming more self-sufficient both economically and personally.

If you or a loved one is interested in joining the HAP program, please contact Laurie Best, Senior Director of Children & Adult Day Services, to see if you qualify.  Laurie can be reached at (973) 535-1181 ext. 1264 or lbest@arcessex.org.

Do you have a loved one interested in attending The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Day Services?  Check out our Adult Day Services brochure, available here, then reach out to The Arc of Essex County’s Director of Adult Day Services, Angela LoSapio, to learn how you can enroll – alosapio@arcessex.org or (973) 535-1181 ext. 1231.