With more than a dozen events to choose among, The Arc of Essex County’s Winter/Spring Community Inclusion, Recreation, and Respite Catalog is packed with fun activities and trips for adult consumers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Community Inclusion Trips include visits to Funplex, the Sea of Life Aquarium at the American Dream Mall, the Turtle Back Zoo, and the Silverball Museum. Group Respite activities include Soup Day, where consumers will be making soup and enjoying each other’s company; Super Bowl Sunday, where they will enjoy snacks and play football-themed games; a “Be Mine” Valentine’s celebration; Oscar Night, complete with a red carpet; a Mardi [...]

To make the holidays more festive (and delicious), the West Essex UNICO organization catered a Christmas dinner for 30 of The Arc of Essex County’s residents and staff on Thursday, December 23. Residents from the West Caldwell, Green Avenue (Roseland), and Cedar Grove group homes and the Verona Apartment Program, and their residential staff, were all treated to a holiday meal that included antipasto, meatballs, and pasta. The Arc of Essex County and those we serve would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the West Essex UNICO for their continued generosity during the holiday season. The West Essex UNICO’s mission [...]

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 The Arc of Essex County's website here.  Special Occasions (October to December 2021): In Honor of JoAnn RainesCara L. SchnaperSchwab Charitable In Honor of Albert C. IanaconeJohn Ianacone In Honor of Joseph BergmanGeri Kahn In Honor of Susan ComparatoEllen RooneyHeather Rooney In Honor of Eileen StuartJoan Ratner In Honor of Brian LoweAllyns Melendez Memorial: In Memory of Gregory J. De LorenziSchwab Charitable In Memory of Luisa RendennaMary Tranchetti In Memory of Grace BergmanLeona Bergman In Memory of [...]

On Sunday, December 5th, members of The Arc of Essex County’s Board of Directors hosted a virtual caroling party in lieu of their annual Board Caroling event. Eight groups homes tuned in to sing along to their favorite holiday songs, bringing warmth and joy to the season. If your school, business, or civic organization would like to spread cheer to The Arc’s residents and frontline staff during the winter months, please email The Arc’s Senior Director of Development and Communication, Heather Comstock, at hcomstock@arcessex.org to express your interest in getting involved and discuss ideas and agency needs.

Throughout the months of November and December, The Arc of Essex County gathered items for members of our Home Assistance Program (HAP), including 40 coat donations for children and adults, dozens of toys and gifts, and more than 500 non-perishable food items for our families. The Adult Day Programs competed to see who could gather the most food items for the drive, and this year SYA was victorious with 203 items. For their efforts, SYA attendees and staff will enjoy a pizza party. The Arc thanks everyone who contributed to the drives and helped make the holiday season brighter and cozier for [...]

We’re back in person and can’t wait to run, walk, and have fun together! On Saturday, April 9, 2022, The Arc of Essex County will host its 24th Annual Building Tomorrows event at the Clipper Pavilion in South Mountain Recreation Complex in West Orange, returning to an in-person gathering after two years of virtual events. The day will once again feature a 5K Run, Fundraising Walk, and Family Fun Fest with games, activities, and fun for all ages. All proceeds will directly benefit The Arc of Essex County's services that support nearly 1,500 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their [...]