Blog | The Arc of Hanover

Cruising in the Chaos

Compiled by Stacey Murrell, Executive Director, The Arc of Hanover

Joy Shannon has been a dedicated volunteer with The Arc of Hanover. Earlier this year, she was nominated for Hanover County’s 2026 Spirit of Volunteerism Awards in the "Spirit of Purpose" category. In her three years with us, she has developed a strong understanding of our mission, values, operations, and goals. Her experience, commitment, and operational knowledge will help ensure a smooth transition as she steps into the new role of Assistant Manager for The Arc of Hanover Thrift Store.

"Please join me in congratulating Joy and welcoming her to The Arc of Hanover staff team," says Stacey Murrell, Executive Director for The Arc of Hanover. "We are excited to have her continue supporting our organization and community in this new capacity."

Joy Shannon is an artist, photographer, writer, wife, mother to five.

How many years have you served with The Arc of Hanover and where have you served?

Joy Shannon: I have been a volunteer with The Arc of Hanover for over three years. I have served on all teams with the exception of the Board of Directors. I have even traveled with Truck Team volunteers. I work with members of the IDD community (intellectually and developmentally disabled) and have assisted four members in ongoing efforts to train in specific job skills.

I serve on the register team, the Warehouse team, in all aspects from sorting to pricing to cleaning product and merchandising those items on the retail floor.

Joy Shannon, new Assistant Manager for The Arc of Hanover Thrift Store, balances merchandise and with her love for supporting and coaching individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

What are your main responsibilities as Assistant Store Manager?

Joy Shannon: The main responsibilities of the Assistant Thrift Store Manager are to collaborate with Kim Thompson, the Thrift Store Manager, on Store and Warehouse operations, to provide on-floor volunteer support and supervision, to support in-Store marketing and sales, and to back up Kim during high-volume or needed coverage times.

What goes in your coffee?

Joy Shannon: Espresso with a dash of white. No sugar, no flavors.

What do you do when you're not at the Store?

Joy Shannon: I work for my five children when not working at The Arc of Hanover and am deeply grateful that my husband cooks us all breakfast each morning.

You may love the whole Store, but what is an especially favorite area and why?

Joy Shannon: My favorite is the mission-focused efforts in being a support/coach to IDD community members and I'm very honored when they request me to be their support person during their shifts. My favorite physical area is the U-shaped area in Warehouse I that starts at the sorting table and moves into the pricing area and then into carts to be cleaned and placed on the retail floor.

I also love finding a place on Warehouse II shelves to help bring joy to our bargain shoppers during our monthly Warehouse Sales -- and some items finding the proper recycle path.

What is your favorite color to wear?

Joy Shannon: White! [Stacey adds: "She is one of the only people who can wear white in the Warehouse and not leave with stained white items. Magic?"]

What would you (or DID you) buy in the holiday area?

Joy Shannon: I have my eye on a set of dishes that are holiday-themed but are the same material as my regular dishes, Ironstone from Japan.

You are well traveled. What is a favorite destination?

Joy Shannon: I have traveled to many countries and to places in the U.S. I love the mountains. In the United States, I love the Rocky Mountains and internationally, I love the Alps.

You can read more about Joy and her "Spirit of Purpose" nomination as well as how to become a volunteer with The Arc of Hanover in the Volunteer section of our website.

Photo cred: Katrina VanHuss

If you want to help people in Hanover County with intellectual or developmental disabilities via The Arc of Hanover, donate here.

If you are a disability self-advocate, parent, caregiver or concerned citizen interested in writing a blog post for The Arc of Hanover -- on family relationships or any subject -- please contact Sue Jeantheau, Communications Committee, at sue.jeantheau@thearcofhanover.org.

They Would Still Be Worthy

By Erika Ronder Rogers, Guest Writer

Erika is the founder of Abide Village -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating an inclusive, supportive and sustainable housing community (the foundation of which is at least 30 cottage-style homes to be built in Louisa County) designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals and those with disabilities.

*The author sharing a moment of fun with one of her sons.*

I’ve spent the last few days watching the internet react to a video where a couple chose to abort their baby because he had Down syndrome.

[You can read one of the many published stories about this account here.]

What struck me most wasn't just the decision itself -- it was the reasoning behind it. The comments about people with Down syndrome being a "glitch," a burden, or destined for a "bad life" reveal something much deeper about how our society still measures human worth.

Years ago, I traveled to the other side of the world multiple times specifically to adopt children with Down syndrome. Today, four of those children are my sons and daughters.

They go to school. They attend sporting events. They go to dances. They travel. They go to the beach, the zoo, and church. They have friends, favorite foods, hobbies, opinions, and dreams. They laugh until they can't breathe. They bring joy, frustration, chaos, and love to our family — just like every other child.

But even if they never did any of those things, they would still be worthy.

Because a person's value is not determined by their IQ, productivity, independence, diagnosis, or what they can contribute to society. Human beings have worth simply because they are human.

What is most heartbreaking to me is that in 2026, we still look at people through the lens of what they cannot do and use that to determine whether their lives are valuable.

My children are not mistakes. They are not glitches.

They are image bearers of God.

They are worthy of dignity, belonging, love, and life.

And so is every human.

To learn more about Abide Village, visit their website or follow their Facebook page.

If you want to help people in Hanover County with intellectual or developmental disabilities via The Arc of Hanover, donate here.

A Small Tax Change That Could Make Giving a Little Easier

By Otis Fulton, Guest Writer

You may have heard something recently about changes to charitable giving and taxes, but like most tax topics, it can be hard to tell what actually applies to you.

Here’s the simple version:

You may now be able to deduct charitable donations, even if you don’t itemize your taxes.

That’s new (again). And for many people, it makes giving just a little more rewarding.

What Changed?

Under a recent update to federal tax law, people who take the standard deduction can now claim an additional deduction for charitable gifts made in cash to qualified nonprofits.

That means:

Up to $1,000 for individuals
Up to $2,000 for married couples filing jointly

In the past, you could only deduct donations if you itemized your taxes. For most people, that meant their giving didn’t affect their taxable income at all.

Now, it can.

What Does That Actually Mean?

Let’s make this practical.

If you’re someone who:

Gives to causes you care about (like The Arc of Hanover)
Takes the standard deduction (like most Americans do)

You can now reduce your taxable income by the amount you give, up to the limits above.

That doesn’t mean your taxes go down dollar-for-dollar, but it does mean your generosity can have a small financial benefit at tax time.

A Simple Example

Let’s say you:

Donate $500 during the year
Take the standard deduction

Under the previous rules, that $500 didn’t affect your taxes.

Under the new rule: You can subtract that $500 from your taxable income.

It’s not a huge change, but it’s meaningful. And for many people, it’s a welcome recognition of something they were already doing: giving.

Why This Matters for Our Community

For organizations like The Arc of Hanover, support from individuals makes everything possible.

It’s what helps:

Provide job training opportunities
Build independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Create real pathways into the workforce and community life

Most people don’t give because of a tax benefit. They give because they care. But when policies like this change, they can make it a little easier to say yes.

A Good Time to Pay Attention

If you already give to causes you care about, this is simply something to be aware of when you think about your year-end giving or tax planning.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your donation “counts” at tax time -- now, for many people, it does.

Tax situations can vary, so it’s always a good idea to check with a tax professional or review guidance from the IRS if you have questions about your specific situation.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need a tax incentive to be generous. But it’s good to know that now, your generosity may come with an added benefit. And for the people and families served by organizations like The Arc of Hanover, that generosity continues to make a real difference -- every single day.

By the Way

If you're wondering about whether the updated law also includes in-kind donations or volunteer hour donations, you need to know it does not cover those. The change only impacts cash contributions.

If you want to help people in Hanover County with intellectual or developmental disabilities via The Arc of Hanover, donate here.