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. Tribute Donations (October to December 2025): In Memory of Anthony NittoliMaria DiGiuseppeNancy YehRalph Barillari In Memory of Barbara CalderoneSusan Hagedorn In Memory of Charles J. Rembert IIIGail HittAllison CalabreseVeronica M. HuntAdela Carbone In Memory of Davey OwensAl Lasso In Memory of Eileen TengwellEdward Tengwell In Honor of Emerson ComstockHeather Comstock In Honor of Glennise Renae HillmanSherleen Hillman In Honor of Irene McCannKaren and Dave HunterRichard and Mary Jean MeraviNancy L. [...]

The students at Stepping Stones School had a busy month marking the holiday season with their classmates and friends. The annual holiday party on December 18 welcomed families of the children in the Early Intervention and school programs, and included a visit from Santa, who delivered gifts from the Candle Lighters to each child. The group also enjoyed holiday fare and a live music dance party together. The school also welcomed visits from the Deron School, whose students worked with Stepping Stones children to create holiday crafts together, and from the Fairfield Police Department, which delivered gifts to each child through its [...]

The Arc of Essex County's Jobs Club participants recently start job sampling in a hospitality setting. Members of the Jobs Club at West Caldwell Hub went through a four-week in-center preparation class, using Kibu lessons to help reinforce ideas around hospitality and housekeeping. Then they began their four weeks of on-location training at DoubleTree Hotel in Fairfield. Participants learned how to greet people, how to make a bed, and other important skills involved in working at a hotel. Do you have a loved one interested in attending The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Day Services?  Click here to learn more about our programs, and [...]

The Arc of Essex County’s Entrepreneurship Club spread holiday spirit through a series of festive pop-up shops this season. Members showcased their creativity with sales displays set up at The Arc’s most recent Board of Directors meeting in November, as well as a holiday pop-up shop at the main office on December 12 and a special event at Studio Arc on December 22 designed for students from Stepping Stones School to purchase gifts for their parents and loved ones. The artisans crafted an impressive variety of items, including canvas totes, holiday cards, candles, soaps, ornaments, earrings, and more. At the Stepping [...]

The Arc of Essex County will soon begin accepting applications for the 2026 Camp Hope season. Registration opens for returning campers on Thursday, January 15 at 9 a.m. Registration will open for new campers on Monday, February 2 at 9 a.m. Camp will run for seven weeks, from June 29 through August 14. Visit the Camp Hope website (arccamphope.com) to apply; applications will be processed as they are received. Questions can be directed to Angela LoSapio at (973) 535-1181 ext. 1231 or camphope@arcessex.org. For more information about Camp Hope, an info session will take place on Friday, February 20 from 3:30 to [...]

The Arc of Essex County is proud to once again receive a generous grant from the New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA) Youth Foundation in support of Camp Hope. Since 2017, the NJSGA Youth Foundation has been a steadfast partner, providing annual contributions that help make Camp Hope a truly special experience for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year, The Arc is thankful to announce a donation of $12,500 from the foundation, which will go a long way toward enhancing programs and creating unforgettable memories for our campers. The NJSGA Youth Foundation is dedicated to supporting deserving youth [...]

In November and December, The Arc of Essex County rallied to support the families in our Home Assistance Program (HAP) with food, gifts, and winter essentials. Thanks to a food drive across our Day Program sites, Stepping Stones School, and the main office, we collected hundreds of grocery items, plus donated gift cards from the Sumas Foundation, ensuring families had full pantries and refrigerators for the holidays. In our annual Day Programs competition, SYA claimed the win with the most collected items. Arc staff and board members also stepped up, donating coats and pajamas tailored to each family’s needs. And with generous [...]

The holidays are always a great excuse to get together, and our Arc Recreation participants gathered for a variety of seasonal activities in December: Holly Jolly Shopping and Lunch at the mall on December 7, which gave participants the chance to pick out special gifts for their loved ones Hotel Respite Weekend from December 12 to 14, including the annual holiday party at SYA with singing, dancing, crafts, and games together—and a visit from Santa himself! The group also went holiday shopping, wrapped gifts, and enjoyed a performance in Newark. Winter Wonder Lights on December 21, where participants drove through four tunnels and [...]

Throughout December, the residents in The Arc of Essex County group homes and apartments enjoyed a mix of festivities at home and fun adventures in the community. Some highlights include: West Essex UNICO provided a Christmas dinner for 27 residents and staff at the Beechtree, West Caldwell, Green Ave, and Cedar Grove group homes on December 18. The Arc is so grateful for UNICO’s continued generosity toward our Arc community. Terrace Avenue Group Home hosted a holiday celebration with all the residents and their families, which included baking cookies, singing Christmas carols, and completing an art project together. The Park Place apartment residents [...]

Participants in The Arc of Essex County’s Day Programs have had an active month, making the most of the holiday season: The SYA Day Program welcomed carolers from the United Presbyterian Church of Lyndhurst for a joyful morning of holiday music, where the group sang an assortment of favorites, from Jingle Bell Rock to Silent Night. SYA also enjoyed a Christmas party at the Chandelier in Nutley, an Ugly Sweater Party, pajama days with hot cocoa, and a trip to go mini golfing together. Bridges hosted a holiday party with families, as well as a pajama day and lots of in-center crafts, [...]