Editorial-Aug. 9, 2007

Hunterdon Arc needs help to assist clients

By: Mae Rhine
   The Arc of Hunterdon does wonderful work with its developmentally disabled clients in its eight group homes in the county, including one in Sergeantsville; in its 14 supervised living apartments; and in its two day programs, the Point Breeze Day Center in Kingwood Township, where it teaches life skills, and Arc Industries in Flemington, where it teaches employment skills.
   In all, it reaches about 500 developmentally disabled people, adults and children, through its programs.
   And as part of its focus this year, the Arc’s new director, Jeffrey Mattison, wants its clients to become more involved in the communities in which they live.
   Other towns could take a page from Sergeantsville’s book about welcoming them.Group home clients have walked throughout the town and been welcomed by Sergeantsville residents and officials alike, for example. For its efforts, the town received an award from the Arc of New Jersey last year.
   It takes a special kind of person to work with Arc’s clients, and most of the employees we’ve met are hard-working, dedicated, caring people who treat their charges as if they’re one of the family.
   But its staff needs help to get its clients out into the community more. Volunteers are needed, not only to work with the clients, but to help with such things as construction projects.
   For example, the Point Breeze center wants to build a greenhouse that would become an Arc-owned business. It has been turned down for grants for the $100,000 it would take to construct it.
   There are many contractors and businesses in the area who could help by donating materials and labor.
   That’s only one of the ways to help.
   Get involved. These people love nothing more than meeting new people.
   You’ll be rewarded by their laughs, smiles and hugs.