On November 30, The Arc of Essex County celebrated Giving Tuesday, a global movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities. Thanks to the generous donations from so many of our supporters, we rocketed past our goal of $10,000 and surpassed $15,000 in contributions, which will support our newly established Community Recreation Fund.

Nearly two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is reopening for many, but barriers continue to prevent those we serve from being able to fully participate in the recovery. Our community inclusion, recreation, and respite programs have always been vital to individuals and families, providing social interactions and learning opportunities for those with IDD, as well as crucial relief for caregivers. But skyrocketing costs for these programs—due to rising expenses, business closures, and added safety precautions—are putting these experiences out of reach for many of our consumers at a time when they are most needed.

Donations to our annual appeal, including the surge of contributions on Giving Tuesday, will immediately go into our Community Recreation Fund. Through this new fund, we can offset program costs and offer scholarships to our program attendees, giving them access to the in-person activities they have missed for so long.

Families of individuals with IDD carried some of the heaviest challenges during the pandemic; we thank our donors for making the load a little lighter for those who need it. We still have more fundraising work to do to meet the need. You can give to our annual appeal today by visiting https://arcessex.org/get-involved/2021-annual-appeal/. You can also call us at (973) 535-1181 ext. 1245, or mail a check made payable to The Arc of Essex County to 123 Naylon Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039.

Thank you for your support, and for making this year’s Giving Tuesday a success for The Arc of Essex County.