It was a bustling holiday season at Stepping Stones School, as students took part in a variety of fun activities to celebrate the December holidays. The annual Holiday Party, complete with a visit from Santa, live music, gift giving, and a special story time session, took place on December 14. All three classrooms and the early intervention programs joined in the festive scene. On December 15, students from The Deron School of New Jersey visited Stepping Stones for their annual gathering. Together, the Deron and Stepping Stones students completed a wooden tree craft together, which each of the children decorated and took [...]

‘Twas the season for merry events as the The Arc of Essex County Adult Recreation participants enjoyed a variety of activities that centered on the December holidays. On December 3, a Holiday Shopping Spree for the Community Inclusion group took shoppers to the Livingston Mall to purchase gifts for their loved ones. Group Respite participants enjoyed an Ugly Sweater Cookie Swap at the Opportunity Zone on December 10, where they made cookies, danced to seasonal tunes, and were awarded prizes for the ugliest sweaters. The following week, Group Respite met at Studio Arc for a Gift-Wrapping Workshop where they learned to [...]

With teen mosaics classes, a Parents’ Night Out, and December Break Camp, Studio Arc was the place to be for Arc children and teens throughout the month of December. The two-part “Intro To Mosaics” art classes were held on December 9 and 16 for seven teen registrants. Participants laid out their glass and ceramic tiles the first week and then grouted and painted their mosaics the following week, under the guidance of Studio Arc Creative Arts Manager Debra McGauley-Eichhorn. At Parents’ Night Out on December 15, children and teens ages 5 to 21 participated in seasonal activities at Studio Arc as their [...]

The SYA Day Program hosted a group of carolers from the United Presbyterian Church of Lyndhurst for a rousing morning of singing holiday songs together. The singalong featured four singers and a melodica player from United Presbyterian, who volunteered their time to bring music and joy to the program on December 11. The guest singers were frequently joined by SYA program participants at the front of the room, and together they led the group through holiday favorites such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town, the 12 Days of Christmas, and Silver Bells. The singing was accompanied by tambourine tapping and [...]

The Arc of Essex County is looking for students in grades 3-12 to be Student Champions for our 26th Annual Building Tomorrows 5K Run, Walk, & Fun Fest on Saturday, April 27. A Student Champion is the “face” of the event and uses his or her personal story to inspire, engage and educate the community. The Student Champion could have a disability, have a loved one with a disability, or simply be inspired by the mission of The Arc and want to support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through forming walk teams, participating in media interviews, and conducting [...]

Our Arc of Essex County group home residents were well taken care of as they celebrated the holiday season together. West Essex UNICO delivered meals to more than 30 residents and staff at The Arc of Essex County group homes on December 21, bringing food to our West Caldwell, Green Avenue, and Cedar Grove group homes and our Verona Apartment Program. The robust Italian feast was appreciated by our residents and residential staff. The Cedar Grove Elks Lodge #2237 hosted several Arc group homes for a Christmas Party on December 9 at St. Catherine of Siena School in Cedar Grove. Belleville, Cedar [...]

Holiday music may have filled the room, but the sweaters were the loudest part of the scene at the Saturday Children’s Respite Ugly Sweater Party on December 9. With an ugly sweater craft, cookie making, ugly t-shirt decorating, and gifts donated and delivered by Stars of Elegance #225 and I Am Men #224, it was a holiday extravaganza to remember for all in attendance. The Children’s Saturday Respite Program is a community-based program for children ages 5 to 21. The program participates in both community-based and in-center activities including visits to parks, festivals, cooking, arts and crafts, and more. The in-center [...]

During the November and December months, The Arc of Essex County collected food and gifts for the 15 families who participate in our Home Assistance Program (HAP). A food drive with drop-off locations at our Day Program locations, Stepping Stones School, and the main office brought in more than 550 grocery items for our families. Combined with 15 donated turkeys from ShopRite in Livingston, the collection helped ensure families had a stocked pantry and refrigerator going into the holiday season. In the annual Day Programs competition, Bridges and SYA were nearly tied in food donations, but Bridges edged out for the [...]