October brought beautiful weather, festive celebrations, and plenty of opportunities for residents of The Arc of Essex County to enjoy time together.

Here are just a few highlights from the month:

• Residents across our group homes and apartment programs embraced the spooky season by decorating their homes, dressing up in costumes, and attending Halloween parties in the community. At Beechtree, residents and staff decorated the exterior of their home, while residents at Linden created ghost crafts to add some festive flair indoors.
• Halloween-themed editions of Man Cave Monday and Girls’ Night In at Studio Arc gave residents the chance to enjoy seasonal fun, socialize, and spend time with friends from across The Arc.
• Residents celebrated birthdays throughout the month with outings to favorite restaurants and parties at home.
• Beechtree resident Joe Manfra traded his everyday attire for a tuxedo to attend his niece’s wedding! It was a special occasion and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with family.
• Residents of the Newark Apartments enjoyed a football-themed community outing at a local Canteen Night, getting into the spirit of the season while connecting with others.
• Bowling outings at several group homes brought residents together for friendly competition, laughter, and quality time with friends.
• Several residents and staff attended the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Conference, joining advocates from across the state for a day focused on empowerment, connection, and advocacy. Read more about their experience by clicking here.
• With October bringing plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures, residents took advantage of opportunities to get outdoors, enjoy their communities, walk through local parks, and spend time together.

For additional information about The Arc of Essex County’s residential services, contact The Arc’s Chief Program Officer Rebecca Lorusso via email at rlorusso@arcessex.org or by calling (973) 535-1181 ext. 1270.