Hannaford Community Bags
We are happy to announce that ARC Rutland Area has been selected by the Store Leadership Team as a Hannaford Community Bag Program Nonprofit Partner for 2026!
ARC will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Community Bag sold during the month of March 2026 at the Rutland VT store located at 318 South Main St. Please purchase reusable Hannaford Community Bags in March in support of ARC. Every donation helps and is greatly appreciated.
ARC 2026 Valentine’s Dance
ARC’s 2026 Valentine’s Dance was held on Sunday, February 8th at the Rutland Elks Lodge #345. The Elks provided a meal of hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni salad, and chips. Cake and dancing followed. Thank you to the Elks for their generous support. Thank you to all the volunteers who assisted at the dance and to all who braved the frigid cold weather to attend.
Lawson’s Finest Liquids Sunshine Fund Award to ARC
ARC was honored to have been chosen to be the partner “On Tap” Sunshine Fund award recipient at Lawson’s Finest Liquids Taproom during December 1 – 15, 2025. During that time, 100% of the donations received from Taproom guests were allocated to ARC Rutland Area.
In January, the staff of Lawson’s Finest, presented ARC with a check for $8,323.83! We are beyond grateful for this incredible support. A huge thank you to #lawsonsfinestliquids and to everyone who donated at their Taproom.
ARC Rutland Area 2025 – Year in Review
ARC 2025 Annual Membership Meeting & Holiday Dinner Dance
We had a wonderful time at our 2025 ARC Annual Membership Meeting and Holiday Dinner Dance on Sunday, December 14th at the Rutland Elks Lodge #345.
At the meeting, Exec. Dir. Diane Drake reported on ARC’s 2025 happenings and financials. Highlighting the hiring of a program director and the five new life skills courses offered this year. The membership approved the 2026 slate of board officers: Melissa Stevens as President, Tim Wing as Treasurer, and Jennifer McNeil as Secretary; and John Wing and Loren Roth as board members.
Jordan Jankus, Melissa Stevens, Jess Corey, Stephanie Lovelette, Terry Stevens, Bobby Poquette, Stacy Shields, Aaron Lethbridge, and Jeanne Bradley all received certificates of appreciation for their volunteer work at ARC this year. Special Valued Partner Certificates were awarded to the Rutland Elks Lodge #345 and The Bus.
Following the meeting, we enjoyed a delicious pasta meal courtesy of the Rutland Elks Lodge #345. After the meal and dessert of cake, Santa and his reindeer passed out gifts to ARC members. Then the dance floor was opened up.
ARC Board and staff extend our sincere appreciation to: Rutland Elks Lodge #345 for hosting this event and providing the meal; and to those who helped out at the dance: Jennifer McNeil, Jess Corey, Stephanie Lovelette, the Chamberlands, Patty Czarnecki, Wyonna Powell, Annaliese Bieg, James Fowler, and the Elks member volunteers. And thank you also to those who shared their photos from the dance with us: Jen McNeil, Nellie Beliakova, Jennifer Brown Strangeway, and the Chamberlands.
ARC AKtion Club and SABE-R Group Give Back to the Community
ARC’s AKtion Club and Self Advocacy group were pleased to give back to the community by donating $250.00 to the Rutland Boys and Girls Club and $250.00 to the Rutland Humane Society in December. The groups worked hard to raise this money through various fundraisers throughout the year – a car wash, an art show and sale, and making suncatchers and snowflake wreaths to sell.
2025 GMSA Mini Conference Know Your Rights! Speak Up!
Some ARC members attended the GMSA Mini Conference: Know Your Rights! Speak Up! in Manchester, VT on Tuesday, Nov. 18th. The conference reviewed 12 rights of those living in a home-share or in housing run by an agency. All enjoyed the conference.
ARC 2025 Halloween Dance
We had a wonderful time with many in great costumes at our ARC 2025 Halloween Dance on Sunday, Oct. 26th at the Rutland American Legion. Our members enjoyed Domino’s Pizza and cake for lunch followed by dancing and socializing with friends. The winners of our costume contest were: David Garvey as Shrek for most original costume; Greg Elnicki for funniest costume in a technicolored suit; and Amanda Shea for scariest costume as a dead senorita. Our deepest appreciation to the Rutland American Legion for providing the venue and to Domino’s Pizza for providing the pizzas. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with set-up and who picked up the pizzas and cakes.
ARC in the 2025 Rutland City Halloween Parade
ARC members, with their Magical Forest float, were excited to participate in the 2025 Rutland City Halloween Parade on Sat. Oct. 25th. A huge thank you to Nellie and Dmitri Beliakov for the photos.
ARC 2025 Barn Picnic
We had a beautiful day for our 2025 ARC Barn Picnic on Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Duffy family home in Poultney. ARC members enjoyed a lunch of hot dogs, baked beans, macaroni salad, and a variety of chips followed by cupcakes for dessert. Members had fun socializing, viewing the animals, and participating in the Limbo Contest. Congratulations to James Fowler on winning the Limbo Contest!
ARC extends our sincere appreciation to the Duffy family for hosting and sponsoring this annual event along with the Poultney Rotary Club and McKenzie Country Classics. Thank you to ARC staff for their work on this and to TeeJay Morrigan for volunteering at this event. Photos by Ginger Morrigan.
ARC’s Artists First: Art By Any Other Name art show at the VTSU Castleton Bank Gallery
ARC Self-Advocates, AKtion Club, and the VTSU Castleton University Bank Gallery were proud to present “Art by Any Other Name,” a group exhibition of art created by ARC “Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered – Rutland and AKtion Club”. The exhibition ran from Sept. 18 – Nov. 1. The show was well received with several of their pieces being purchased.
This new Inclusion project, made possible by a Stewarts’ Grant, offered both groups the opportunity to create and share their artwork with the community. ARC extends our sincere gratitude to our member artists, Stewarts’, the VTSU Castleton Bank Gallery, Ginger Morrigan who facilitated this opportunity for our members, and to TeeJay Morrigan who built a ramp to make the art gallery accessible to all.
ARC & Rutland Kiwanis Club 2025 Family Fun Day
We had a gorgeous day on Saturday, July 19th for our 2025 ARC/Rutland Kiwanis Club Annual Family Fun Day at the Pittsford Recreation Center. The fun filled afternoon started with a cookout of hamburgers on the grill with potato chips, brownie bites, and a variety of drinks and snow cones. Followed by activities of lawn games, hula hoop and limbo contests, swimming, karaoke, and bingo for prizes. Everyone had a great time!
We are so very appreciative of the Rutland Kiwanis Club and its members for sponsoring and volunteering at this annual event. We also extend our gratitude to the Mission City Church Youth Group who come to help out at this event each year. And thank you to our ARC volunteers in attendance.
ARC & Come Alive Outside First Annual Summer Splash
We had a blast Sunday, June 22 at our first annual ARC & Come Alive Outside Summer Splash at Lake Bomoseen State Park Pavillion. We had hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. Members brought a variety of side dishes to share – mac ‘n cheese, salads, chips, and desserts. The we played lawn games and had hula hoop and limbo contests. Congratulations to Shelby on winning 1st place in both contests! We ended the afternoon playing Bingo for prizes.
Our deepest gratitude to Come Alive Outside for sponsoring this new event for ARC. Our members had a great time! Thank you also to all the volunteers who made the event run smoothly.
For a complete list of our meetings, events, and activities, please see our Calendar page.