Spreading Thanksgiving Cheer in Essex County

Autistic adults from The Children’s Institute Center for Independence Young Adult Program, will present homeless families in Newark with Thanksgiving baskets as well as baskets filled with assorted personal and household items.

The donations were made right before Thanksgiving, on Tuesday November 25.

Donations will be made to the New Community Harmony House transitional living facility, located at 278 South Orange Ave. in Newark, NJ.

About New Community Corporation

“One of the largest and most comprehensive community development organizations in the country, New Community was founded in 1968 to help residents of inner cities improve the quality of their lives to reflect individual God-given dignity and personal achievement. As part of its vast network, New Community Corp. owns and manages more than 2,000 units of housing in Newark, Orange and Jersey, with a growing Latino population.”

About The Children’s Institute, Center for Independence, Young Adult Program

“Independence, self-determination, and personal growth are the cornerstones of the Young Adult Program at TCI. We give our young adult students the tools they need to become as independent as possible through integrated, community-based learning opportunities designed to support skill generalization. Our goal is to ensure a seamless transition from the security of the school environment to the adult world of increased choice and self-direction.

Our Young Adult Program offers students aged 18 -21 a full day program supporting transition into adulthood. We use principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Differentiated Instruction, and Universal Design for Learning. Our state-approved curriculum emphasizes the skill sets our students need to live, work and socialize within their communities. Our students graduate with the necessary linkages to post-secondary supports.”

Information and photo courtesy of New Community Corporation.