Author: Jessica Murphy

Thank you for your generous support: The McCutchen Foundation

Grant from The McCutchen Foundation Supports Camp Hope

The Arc of Essex County is grateful for the generosity of the McCutchen Foundation, which has granted $10,000 toward the Camp Hope Fee Assistance project. The McCutchen Foundation is a new funder for The Arc of Essex County, and its contribution will make it possible for more campers to attend Camp Hope, a summer day camp for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities located in East Hanover. We thank the McCutchen Foundation for its support of this special program, and look forward to the 2023 camp season. To learn more about Camp Hope, visit www.ArcCampHope.com.

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Gold and white balloons surround the text: Congratulations! The Arc of Essex County thanks its staff on their milestone anniversaries.

Arc Employees Recognized for Milestone Anniversaries

Each fall, The Arc of Essex County recognizes those employees whose long-standing commitment and dedication have helped shape the agency into what it is today. The Arc would like to recognize the following individuals for their tremendous service to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In particular, The Arc notes the stellar 45 years of service by Judy Bellina, coordinator of volunteers for The Arc’s Early Intervention Program at Stepping Stones School. Countless children and families’ lives have been made better because of Judy’s kindness, patience, and hard work on behalf of the youngest members of our community. We [...]

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A group of people dancing in a large open room.

After-Work Restarts with October Fun

The Arc of Essex County’s After-Work Respite Program started back up in October, with activities such as pumpkin decorating and learning the Cha Cha Slide. The group has enjoyed lively and fun gatherings every Tuesday and Thursday since October 18, when After-Work returned to The Arc’s programming calendar after a long COVID-19 pause. The After-Work Respite Program is a community integration program for adults that allows caregivers to take the time they need to relieve stress, restore energy, and manage family life. A secondary goal of the program is to help families avoid taking time off from their jobs in order [...]

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A woman using a Cricut machine, and then a second photo of her holding a t-shirt that says "Fight like a girl" with a pink ribbon as the "I" in girl. A pink ribbon graphic is also visible between the two photos.

Millburn Residents “Fight Like a Girl” for Breast Cancer Awareness

The four residents of the Millburn Group Home gathered at Studio Arc in October to work on a very special project: in honor of their housemate Marian, a breast cancer survivor, they used the Cricut machine to create “Fight Like a Girl” tee shirts that featured pink ribbons. The group then participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Edison while wearing their newly crafted shirts. Marian has been a survivor for more than 10 years and said she was pleased with the shirt project, which she and her housemates enjoyed making, and hopes that people will remember [...]

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The words "RESIDENTIAL CORNER" across images of four different homes and apartments. The Arc of Essex County logo in the bottom left corner.

November 2022 Residential Corner

For individuals seeking a community living placement, The Arc of Essex County has the following November 2022 openings: NEW! Orange Community Residence (1 Male or Female Vacancy) 24/7 supervisionSingle-family style group home located in a turn-of-the-century mansion with spacious living areasCo-ed living arrangement with active group of residentsNear shopping, dining, and activitiesCare based on individual needs Maplewood Supervised Apartment Program (2 Male Vacancies) 24/7 Staff SupervisionCondo-style living in a unit with elevatorOff-street parkingLocated near public transportation and within walking distance of Maplewood's downtown shopping & restaurants Linden Supervised Apartment (1 Male Vacancy) 1 Bedroom Available in a 3-Bedroom Supervised Apartment in Bloomfield24/7 Staff SupervisionLarge Two-Family Home [...]

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Blue background with dots of orange, light blue, and yellow across the bottom. Text says "Virtual Resources Roundup. November 2022." Graphics of people on a virtual call and of a laptop computer.

November Virtual Resources Roundup

The Arc has a variety of resources for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Here, we provide a monthly roundup of the virtual options available to The Arc community throughout the month: § The Arc of Essex County Mystery Movies (November 7, 14, 21, and 28 at 3 p.m.)The Arc of Essex County Game Day (November 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 at 3 p.m.)The Arc of Essex County Book Buddies (November 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 3 p.m.) § The Arc of NJ Self-Advocacy Project: Stay Healthy at Home: 11/1/22: Know Your Rights! An Overview of Title [...]

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Photo of hands cupped around a red heart figurine, with a white wooden background.

Tributes and Facebook Fundraisers – Summer 2022

Tributes are a beautiful way to acknowledge those you care for, and at the same time, help further The Arc’s mission. To purchase a tribute, please call Ann Burleigh at (973) 535-1181 ext. 1245 or visit our tribute page here. Special Occasions (July to September 2022): In Honor of James HornchakSebrina Staton In Honor of Lee BergmanMadeline Dreifus In Honor of Felicia RainesJo-Ann Raines In Memory of Anthony VelasquezGlenice Foglia In Memory of Brian CaufieldKelli Dolan In Memory of Christopher MagoryBarbara Watson Supporters can host Facebook Fundraisers for birthdays and celebrations to raise money on behalf of The Arc of Essex County. We are very grateful for the [...]

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Students and staff sitting on a train ride outdoors. The child in the front seat is smiling and wearing glasses.

Stepping Stones Students Return for 2022-23 School Year

On September 6, Stepping Stones School opened its doors for the new school year, welcoming 31 students to classrooms full of learning and loving support from teachers and staff. The school had a successful return to in-person Back to School Night at the end of September. An October 3 trip to the Turtle Back Zoo was a highlight of the new year, where students enjoyed observing the animals, riding the train and carousel, and exploring together before returning to Stepping Stones for a tasty pizza lunch. The coming weeks will feature the annual Fall Festival of pumpkin picking and outdoor activities, [...]

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A group of four people playing skee-ball. More arcades and games are visible behind them.

Elvis Extravaganza Among Fun Fall Recreation Activities

The Arc of Essex County’s recreation participants enjoyed a medley of fun activities, including an celebration of Elvis Presley, a delicious brunch, an arcade trip, and a street fair. On September 11, a change in plans took participants to a lovely brunch at the Stage House Tavern in Mountainside. (This was in place of the scheduled trip to Bear Mountain, which was not offering brunch.) In addition to delicious food, the group enjoyed live music and fun conversation together and had a great time. A gathering the following week on September 18 featured a celebration of the King of Rock and Roll [...]

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A group of 18 people standing together outside, with painted bird houses in front of them.

Artistic Fun at the September Hotel Respite Program

In September, The Arc of Essex County’s Hotel Respite group enjoyed an interactive “Paint by the Pond” at Warinanco Park in Roselle. As part of the weekend activities, participants viewed several installations by a local artist and, with his direction, painted their very own miniature houses, which they got to take home with them. The group stayed at Piscataway Embassy Suites Hotel from September 23 to 25. The Hotel Respite program gives caregivers and families a break while giving Arc consumers the opportunity to enjoy community inclusion with their peers. Participants enjoy going out for lunches and dinners at local popular [...]

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