Eighteen participants attended The Arc of Essex County’s August Hotel Respite at the Piscataway Embassy Suites Hotel, marking the return of this popular program after COVID pause of more than two years. Those in attendance went bowling at Linden Lanes, visited a Caribbean Festival in Orange, and shopped at Wal-Mart. 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 restaurants as well as buffet breakfasts at the hotel. At the hotel they can also use the [...]

The Arc of Essex County is pleased to announce that The Provident Bank Foundation awarded Camp Hope a $2,500 grant toward general operating support for the 2022 season. The Knights of Columbus East Hanover Council donated $1,950 to The Arc of Essex County through the Persons with Intellectual Disabilities Fund Drive, to go toward the purchase of needed supplies for group home residents. West Essex UNICO awarded The Arc of Essex County a $1,000 contribution for general operations. The Arc thanks The Provident Bank Foundation, the Knights of Columbus East Hanover Council, and West Essex UNICO for their generous support of the mission [...]

Despite the drought conditions and scorching summer days, volunteers Al Ianacone and Susan Langner have continued to help keep the gardens flourishing at four of The Arc of Essex County’s residential homes. Gardens at the Claremont Avenue and Washington Avenue residences in Montclair, the Linden Apartments in Bloomfield, and the Verona Apartments have all been maintained by a combination of Al and Susan as well as residents and staff. With tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and basil among the bounty, the hard work of watering, weeding, and pruning has resulted in delicious fresh produce for the residents to enjoy. To learn more about [...]

The Arc of Essex County’s Children’s Respite Program concluded their last summer Saturday at Camp Hope with a carnival themed celebration. Those in attendance enjoyed carnival games and prizes and face painting by one of the attendees, who did an excellent job decorating the faces of his peers. During their July and August programming, the Children’s Respite participants met at Camp Hope, where they gathered for three Saturdays each month. To beat the heat all summer, the 14 participants cooled off on the splash pad and enjoyed water gun battles with each other. As the Children’s Respite group looks ahead to fall, [...]

The 2nd Annual Craft Beer Open will bring together 18 holes of golf, a variety of beer, wine, and spirits tastings, a robust selection of delicious offerings from local restaurants, and cigar tastings as a one-of-a-kind day on Monday, September 12 at Crestmont Country Club in West Orange. Attendees can reserve their seat for the cocktail reception, which will feature food from Ah’Pizz Italian Restaurant & Bar, Chef Jesse Concepts, Nom Mexican Table & Tequila Bar, The office Tavern & Grill, Town Bar & Kitchen, Pure Love Pies, and Crestmont Country Club, as well as drinks from Organic Vintages and cigars [...]

Camp Hope welcomed more than 200 campers for its 66th season, bringing a variety of fun activities to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities over the course of seven weeks this summer. Click here to view a photo montage of the season! After a busy July with theme weeks that ranged from holidays to time travel, August featured another round of fun weekly motifs. It started with “Roll Out the Red Carpet,” which featured Disney and superhero theme days, as well as the annual Camp Hope Talent Show. “Color Wars” made for a vibrant scene throughout the week, including a [...]

With a trip to the Just Peachy Festival and an assortment of fun parties and activities, The Arc of Essex County Community Inclusion and Recreation participants had an active August schedule. On August 7, the group visited Terhune Orchards in Princeton to enjoy the Just Peachy Festival, where they listed to live music, engaged with a traveling petting zoo, and ate delicious food, including perfect peaches. The following week, they enjoyed a BBQ Campout Party at Camp Hope on August 14, where they had a barbecue lunch, made s’mores, played camping games, and told stories. On August 21, an Ice Cream Social allowed [...]

For individuals seeking a community living placement, The Arc of Essex County has the following September 2022 openings: (NEW!) 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 Washington Avenue Residence (1 Male Vacancy) 1 bedroom in 5-bedroom male group home in a quiet Montclair neighborhood24/7 staff supervisionMale residents enjoy demonstrating their growing independence in areas such as preparing small meals, doing their own laundry, and cleaningWithin walking distance of parks and shoppingCurrent housemates enjoy the community’s many recreational opportunities, such as bowling, [...]