UPDATED: The Craft Beer Open has been rescheduled for Monday, October 23 due to a weather postponement. Bidding is underway for the fantastic prizes featured in The Arc of Essex County’s Craft Beer Open virtual auction. The auction is open to all, and bidders do not have to attend the Craft Beer Open to win. Prizes can be viewed at ArcAuction.com, where participants have the opportunity to bid on foursomes at local golf courses, city getaways, sporting event tickets, and more. Prizes are being added regularly, so check back often before the auction closes at 6 p.m. on October 23 The auction [...]

The Prudential CARES National Backpack Challenge helped outfit The Arc of Essex County’s Stepping Stones School with hundreds of supplies needed to start the new school year in September. Employees from Prudential’s BRG ADAPT group collectively donated more than 40 backpacks and kindergarten supply kits, as well as dozens of packages of construction paper, sidewalk chalk, glue, beginner pencils, erasers, paint sets, notebooks, pencil cases, and playground balls. The group exceeded the requested numbers for all of the items that Stepping Stones needed, and eased the back-to-school supply burden on families and teachers going into the 2023-24 school year. "ADAPT, Prudential’s employee-led [...]

Camp Hope was the scene for some weekend action as participants in The Arc of Essex County’s Hotel Respite program explored the splash pad, basketball courts, and swings, and enjoyed playing bingo and singing karaoke together this summer. The weekend also featured a trip to the bowling alley and local restaurants. With visits to community events, shopping excursions, and more, those attending the weekend retreats have explored the local sites and made plenty of new memories with friends. Recent hotel respite weekends have featured the Hispanic Festival at Monte Irvin Park in Orange, local stage performances, and painting sessions at Studio [...]

Studio Arc will once again be lively with music, play, and bubbles as the free children’s Communi-Play parties return for the fall season. Led by speech therapist Jaquetta Perry-Boyd, children ages 2.5 to 5 and their parents learn skills for better communication while singing and playing together. Jaquetta presents parents with innovative techniques to teach neuro-divergent children new ways to express themselves. The first fall Communi-Play party is scheduled for Saturday, September 9 at 10:30 a.m., followed by sessions on September 23, October 7 and 21, and November 4. Registration is required, visit bit.ly/communi-play to sign up. This program is provided to families [...]

Participants in The Arc of Essex County’s Community Inclusion and Respite program had a robust schedule of events in August that took them to the shore, to Princeton, and to Studio Arc for a variety of fun adventures and activities. On August 6, the group made a trip to the Just Peachy Festival at Terhune Orchards in Princeton, where they ate peaches and peachy treats, visited the traveling zoo, and enjoyed live music. On August 13, it was off to Asbury Park, where participants explored the Silverball Museum, trying their hands at pinball, skee-ball, shuffle board, air hockey, and more. The group [...]

Starting on September 15, Parents Night Out will be resuming for the fall season and, thanks to Partnership for Children of Essex and Essex County Community Resource Development Funds, the respite care for children and teens will be provided free of charge for families. Activities will be based at Studio Arc in Fairfield and run from 6 to 9 p.m. Participants can pay $5 for pizza and drinks or bring their own dinner. Space is limited and registration is required. Three-to-one coverage is provided for all participants, including siblings. One-to-one coverage may be provided upon request; call to discuss possible additional fees. After [...]

Carmella and Donna-Marie are both longtime participants in The Arc of Essex County’s SYA Day Program in Nutley. They also both became members of The Arc’s residential program in 2023, with Carmella joining the Ashwood group home in Livingston and Donna-Marie joining the Belleville group home. For both of them, the transition into their new homes has gone wonderfully. “I am so happy where I am,” Carmella says, sharing stories about helping to set the table and make dinner with her friends and the staff. She raves about her new room as well. “I am so happy in my own room. [...]

For individuals seeking a community living placement, The Arc of Essex County has the following September 2023 openings: Meadowbrook Condo (1 Male or Female Vacancy) Unlicensed two-bedroom condo in Maplewood Candidates would be on the Supports Program Close to public transportation Care based on individual needs Orange Community Residence (1 Male or Female Vacancy) 24/7 supervision Single-family style group home located in a turn-of-the-century mansion with spacious living areas Co-ed living arrangement with active group of residents Near shopping, dining, and activities Care based on individual needs Maplewood Supervised Apartment Program (1 Male Vacancy) 24/7 Staff Supervision Condo-style living in a unit with elevator Off-street parking Located near public transportation and within walking distance of Maplewood's [...]