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, [...]

Andre has been a student at Stepping Stones School since he was 3 years old and has attended alongside some of his best friends through preschool, TK, primary, and in the newly added primary plus classroom. As he gets ready to graduate out of Stepping Stones this June, his family is sad to say goodbye to a school that has guided him for nine years, but is also excited for his next chapter. Andre will continue to be a part Arc programs as a Camp Hope camper and a participant in activities such as the weekly social skills classes in Maplewood. “We [...]

When Dina Meixner was in college, she didn’t know that a job like the one she currently has—Clinical Team Lead of Behavioral Supports—existed as a career. She was focused on becoming an attorney and studying political science when she discovered sociology, which sparked an entirely new interest for her. “I realized how much I liked learning about people and how they function,” she says. The discovery redirected Dina away from studying law and toward minoring in sociology and looking for positions in that field. About 15 years ago, she began working for both public and private schools, beginning as a teaching assistant [...]

For individuals seeking a community living placement, The Arc of Essex County has the following January 2026 openings: Beechtree Group Home (1 Male Vacancy) Single-family style home in a quiet West Caldwell neighborhood 24/7 supervision Fully renovated in 2024 Spacious deck for outdoor time Care given based on individual needs Linden Apartment Program (1 Male Vacancy and 1 Female Vacancy) 1 bedroom available in a 3-bedroom Supervised Apartment in Bloomfield 24/7 supervision Large two-family home Located near public transportation and within walking distance of beautiful parks, shopping, and restaurants Current roommates enjoy spending time pursuing their own interests such as reading, watching TV, being active, going on community outings, and through [...]