Helping people with developmental disabilities in our community
6550 Delilah Road, Suite 101
Fax 609.926.9554
Phone 609.485.0800
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Beth Ann Spiegel, Communications Associate
The Arc of Atlantic County
Phone: 609-485-0800, Ext. 136
Cell: 609-481-7761 (day of event)
Fax: 609-407-6282
Email: bspiegel@arcatlantic.org
Website: www.arcatlantic.org
Partner Agency
Arc of Atlantic County to Deploy ‘Volunteer Troops’
Throughout the Community
Arc Employees to Perform Extensive Community Service to Launch
National ‘Make a Difference Day’
Egg Harbor Township, NJ – October 20, 2008 – Nearly
140 employees of The Arc of Atlantic County will
volunteer at 16 sites across the county to mark the
organization’s All-Staff Day and to celebrate national
“Make a Difference Day,” on Tuesday, October 21.
Arc staff members will gather at The Arc’s main
office for a pep rally led by Arc executives, at 8:30 a.m.
Then, they will head to sites that include the Forsythe
Wildlife Preserve for a park cleanup, Pleasantville’s North
Main Elementary School to read to children and Sister
PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITY
Tuesday, October 21st
8:30am: All Staff Day Pep Rally at Arc
main office
3:30pm: Closing Celebration
The Arc of Atlantic County
Multipurpose Room
6550 Delilah Road, Suite 101
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
10:00 am to 2:00 pm: Volunteer
projects at sites across the county. See
attached for exact time and location of
confirmed sites.
Jean’s Kitchen to serve food. Other projects include: grounds-keeping at the Atlantic Riding
Center for the Handicapped, pumpkin painting for seniors at the Mainland Manor nursing home
and many other projects. Arc staff members will wear official Arc royal blue t-shirts bearing the
slogan “Building better communities for everyone,” as they volunteer.
This is the second year The Arc of Atlantic County has blended its “All Staff Day” with
national “Make a Difference Day.” While the official date for “Make a Difference Day” is
Saturday, October 25, next Tuesday provides a better opportunity for many Arc employees to
participate. “We make a difference in our community each day with the nature of our work,” said
Deborah Davies, Ph.D., Arc chief executive officer. “This event will enable our employees to
make new contributions to the communities where we live and work. We are eager for this
opportunity to serve our neighbors, increase The Arc’s local visibility, and to strengthen our
relationships among ourselves and with other local organizations.”
Arc employees support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their
daily lives, and giving back to the broader community is a chance for them to put the agency’s
work into perspective. “By serving at other organizations, we enhance our understanding of the
many diverse needs in our community and how our organization fits into the broad picture. It’s
also a wonderful way to enable our own service recipients to give back to the community,” says
Davies.
Some relationships forged as a result of last year’s Make a Difference Day have
continued year-round, according to Maureen Yuhasz, Supported Employment Coordinator for
The Arc. “Last year our group served food at Sister Jean’s Kitchen in Atlantic City. It’s a really
great cause, so we decided to continue it throughout the year. We’ve been collecting donations
for the people Sister Jean serves as well as kitchen items like plates, pots and utensils. We’ve
even recruited some Arc service recipients to help collect and drop off donations. It’s been a very
rewarding experience for everyone involved.”
The Arc of Atlantic County is a private non-profit organization committed to making a
difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their
families. Since 1961, The Arc has been working in partnership with individuals with Down
syndrome, autism and other developmental disabilities to provide the opportunities and supports
they need to live, learn, work and play as they choose.
For more information on The Arc of Atlantic County, please visit our website at
www.arcatlantic.org or call 609-485-0800.
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