The History of TARC
As parents of an individual with intellectual disabilities, Jeffrey and Nellie Guidry changed lives and created what is now known as TARC. Their daughter, Diana, developed a very high fever which was uncontrollable and resulted in damage to her brain. Doctors had no hope that she would recover. According to Mr. Guidry, he says that “with God’s help and a loving mother, she slowly recovered to a degree of walking, communication, and was able to do a few things.” However, she was not able to attend a “regular” school.
During this time, Mr. Guidry went to work for an insurance company which allowed him to meet many people in their homes in Terrebonne Parish. He met many families with children with developmental disabilities. He said, “Parents hid them from strangers or put them in institutions.”
After this particular incident, Jeffrey and Nellie decided to locate other families and organize “some form of a special school” to help train people with intellectual disabilities. They pleaded to various civic clubs in the community and approached the local School Board. With much dedication and hard work, a classroom was made available at Terrebonne Elementary School in 1953. Mrs. Yvonne Pellegrin was selected as the first instructor of a class of 8 students. This class was one of the first in the state, as well as the first in Terrebonne Parish.
Nellie became the first president of the Terrebonne Association for Retarded Citizens from 1952 to 1954. During this time, Jeffrey received a promotion in Lafayette, and the Guidry family moved and became instrumental in helping the ARC in their new town.
In 1960, TARC fell upon bad times and was abandoned, but was revived by a pioneering group of parents and teachers. In 1962, $5,000 was raised by the group of parents and teachers, and the Terrebonne Association for Retarded Citizens was formed as a non-profit Louisiana corporation.
State laws were enacted in 1963 requiring local boards to accommodate people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in the public school system. Terrebonne’s school system decided to allow TARC to provide this service because of its experience and success. One year later, TARC rented and renovated a house on Goode Street and moved in with three students, then grew to two classes as Wonderland Day Care Center, the first TARC School. Wonderland later moved to East Main Street.
In 1966, Wonderland moved to what was then known as the Tri-T building adjacent to the Municipal Auditorium where the program expanded to four classes, and the first bus was purchased to transport students.
TARC became affiliated with the ARC of Louisiana and ARC of the United States in 1967. Due to a greater need than anticipated, TARC turned its attention to South Terrebonne and founded Bayou Day Care Center at Montegut and Grand Caillou.
One of the most monumental decisions in Terrebonne Parish was when the Parish Council added funding for TARC through a millage tax. In 1968, TARC acquired the millage from the parish to administer to the health and educational requirement of individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in Terrebonne Parish.
TARC then obtained the Houma Air Force Radar site at Number One McCord Road to become the campus in 1972. The following year, the Houma Air Force Radar Site was dedicated to TARC. All TARC classrooms were consolidated at the new campus. In 1974, Wonderland changed its name from Day Care Center to Wonderland Development Center. At this time, TARC changed its name to the Terrebonne Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc (TARC). Federal Law 94142 Free and Appropriate Public Education for 3-22 Years of Age was signed into law.
In 1975, a Louisiana residential care license was approved. In addition, a grant application was made to the Department of Health Education and Welfare, and TARC built its first sheltered workshop as well as the cafeteria.
The Bayou Day Care Center in Montegut was closed in 1979, and individuals were moved to the campus on McCord Road. The greenhouse was opened. In 1982, the playground and Music Hall/Chapel were constructed as well the TARC Restaurant. In 1986, the Independent Apartment Living Program began.
In 1992, the Terrebonne Parish School Board separated school services from TARC’s vocational services due to funding changes at the State and Federal levels.
TARC held its first annual Christmas Wonderland in 1995.
In 2000, a tornado hit TARC’s campus destroying the greenhouses, damaging administrative offices, and other buildings. During the same year, TARC opened the Sunshine Express Early Care and Education Center.
TARC celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2002.
In 2003, TARC received a 3-year International Accreditation from CARF (Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). This was a high honor for TARC.
In 2006, TARC reapplied for accreditation and received another 3-year CARF certification.
2007- TARC’s millage is renewed by 85% support. Mary Lynn Bisland is named Executive Director. New business ideas and names were trademarked, which are: Bayou Packers, Bayouland Yard Krewe, Cajun Crate Company, The Cedar Chest Boutique, Houma Grown, La Maison D’Art, Lagniappe Cleaning Company, Le Bon Temps Bakery, and Creative Employment Opportunities. TARC created its first social club called “Let’s Get Together”. TARC opened Le Bon Temps Bakery and makes homemade cakes and pastries. Professional business uniforms are added to each TARC department.
2008- Grand opening of Creative Employment Opportunities and Cedar Chest Boutique on Main Street. An activity center in Unit #19 for day habilitation participants and staff was created. A new business Buy U Beads developed out of Bayou Packers to package, sort, and sell Mardi Gras beads. TARC updated the mission statement to read “TARC is committed to securing for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities the opportunity to enjoy a meaningful life”. TARC now uses intellectual disability, not mental retardation. Qualified Mental Retardation Professionals (QMRP’s) are now called Qualified Developmental Disability Professionals (QDDP’s). The first Martin Luther King march event was held for TARC staff and clients. The first formal dance sponsored by TARC and the LGT club was held at the Woodmen of the World hall. Construction started on the new community home “Lillian Marie Community Home”. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike threaten Terrebonne Parish and clients were evacuated to West Monroe. A citrus grove that included a variety of different kinds of fruit trees was planted on TARC grounds. TARC started a compost bin. Sweet Sensations added a chocolate enrober machine and cooler to increase production. Paula Lapeyrouse visits the White House at Christmas to view the ornament she designed on the White House Christmas tree.
2009- TARC opened the following businesses: Grand Designs, a screen-printing business, and the Hen House, a fresh yard egg business. Worm teabag fertilizer, a worm composting product, was created for the TARC merchandising line maintained by Houma Grown. TARC reapplies for accreditation and receives another 3-year CARF certification. Day habilitation was renamed “Options Plus”. The Cajun Crate Company moved its operation to Weatherford Manufacturing on Hwy. 311. The Cedar Chest Boutique’s processing unit moved to Unit 11 due to the high volume of increased donations. Buy-U Beads became its own business due to increased donations of Mardi Gras beads. Through a CONOCO-PHILIPS grant, TARC incorporated accessible raised beds for Houma Grown workers for people in wheelchairs.
2010- TARC partnered with La-Terre Master Gardeners to host the Bonne Terre Garden Fair in April. The Lillian Marie Community Home became occupied by six men from TARC. La Maison d’art began making slumped bottles that were added to the TARC merchandising line. “Bayou Packers” began making “Rag Bags”. Sweet Sensations was renamed Cajun Confections. Houma Grown Farmer’s Market was opened to the public.
2011- TARC partnered with the Houma Visitor and Convention Bureau and started tourism tours. The first annual TARC’S Garden and Market Festival was held in May. A new TARC product, Garden Marbles, was added to the TARC merchandise line. Le Bon Temps Bakery was renamed Cajun Confections Bakery.
2012- TARC celebrated 50 years of incorporation by changing its corporate name to Terrebonne Arc. TARC held an Anniversary event commemorating the staff and clients on March 21, the day of incorporation. TARC reapplied for accreditation and received another 3-year CARF certification. TARC opened Grand Designs at a location off campus to Plaza Calliou Shopping Center on Grand Calliou due to a high volume of sales and easy access for customers. TARC implemented its first Bead Donation Truck at the end of Houma’s Mardi Gras parades to collect beads for TARC’s Buy-U Beads business. TARC purchased two buildings that will become Cedar Chest Boutique (East) and Cedar Chest Boutique (West).
2013- TARC opened a second Cedar Chest Boutique (CCE-Cedar Chest East) on Grand Calliou Road and the Unit 11 Thrift Processing Unit Moved into CCE. TARC closed Sunshine Express Early Care and Education Center. The Krewe of Titans invited eight TARC individuals to ride on one of their floats in the parade. It was a once-in-a-lifetime dream for these individuals. TARC’s Millage Vote Renewal passed in November with over 75% approval. TARC discontinued the annual Open House event. TARC implemented uniform shirts for all TARC businesses. TARC debuts new trailers and containers Houma Mardi Gras parade bead donations for Buy-U Beads. Cedar Chest (West) moves to a new location on West Main Street.
2014-Grand Designs closes its Plaza Calliou location and moves to the previous location of Sunshine Express on Gabasse Street and purchases an 8-Color Screen Printing Press. Cedar Chest Boutique expands its donation intake by placing 5 large red donation bins in the community. The Cedar Chest Donation Crew is created to pick up the donations. Thrift Processing is opened on the TARC Campus. The TARC Salsas and Pepper Jellies were moved and rebranded under the Houma Grown label. The TARC Garden and Market Festival was discontinued. TARC partners with SCLHSA to promote removing the R-Word through an Art of Respect event. (NOTE: This event is now an annual event.)
2015- TARC purchases Periwinkle Pink on Enterprise Drive and this becomes the new location for Cedar Chest Boutique (West). Houma Grown begins salsa and pepper jelly operations. TARC receives another 3-year CARF Accreditation. Houma Grown discontinues Worm Tea Bag/Worm Casting products. TARC’s Supported Employment program implements the first annual CEO Longevity Awards to recognize outstanding efforts made by our individuals in community employment. Krewe of TARC is implemented where 6 individuals from TARC get to ride in the TARC Mardi Gras parade. TARC helps support 1st microenterprise by Teri Boudreaux with her Boudreaux’s Bands bracelet products which sell in the TARC Restaurant and Gift Shop. TARC purchases Amy’s Country Candles and this will become the third location for Cedar Chest Boutique (North).
2016-TARC adds six additional donation bins and this creates the second Donation Crew. With increased donations, two new box trucks were purchased. TARC purchases Pat’s of Chauvin and opens a third Cedar Chest (North) location in Schriever. TARC implemented the EVV (Electronic Visit Verification) center agency-wide. TARC’s Houma Grown began wholesaling salsa and pepper jellies to local supermarkets as well as the New Orleans Rouses markets. TARC partners with the Houma Courier for the Bayou’s Biggest Garage Sale where the leftover items were donated to the Cedar Chests. Options Plus holds its first major day event, Carnival Day. TARC receives the Houma Courier’s Readers Choice Award-Best NonProfit. The Houma Elks sponsors a Let’s Get Together field trip to the Audobon Zoo.
2017-TARC opens a fourth Cedar Chest Boutique (South) in the previous Pat’s of Chauvin building. Renovations were made to Cedar Chest (West) and Cedar Chest (East) buildings. TARC adds three new donation bins in the community as well as a third donation crew. The Cedar Chest Boutiques celebrate National Thrift Store day throughout all of the stores. (This is now an annual event.) Houma Grown discontinued raised beds and gardens as salsa and pepper jelly sales quickly increased. The Hen House closed and the chickens were sold to our local community. Aktion Club (a division of Kiwanis) was chartered. TARC began utilizing the Remind application for more efficient communications with family and staff during emergencies as well as helpful notifications to department staff during operations. TARC wins Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs Provider of the Year Award. The Houma Elks sponsors a Crawfish & Bingo Day at TARC for Let’s Get Together members. TARC begins planning for the new Cajun Confections Building on Enterprise Drive and construction began in October.
2018- TARC wins Provider of the Year from the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs. TARC wins the Chapter Innovation Award, Advocate of the Year, and Recreation Award from the Arc of Louisiana. Thrift Store Processing (now named Cedar Chest Donation Center) is moved into the community in the building on West Main St. previously occupied by Cedar Chest West. Houma Grown is featured on ABC News- News with a Twist. Options Plus implements its first Options Olympics day. TARC begins planning for “Bayou Country Café”. TARC opens Cajun Confections Candy, Bakery, and Café’ in November. Let’s Get Together holds first Sadie Hawkins Dance-Sadie Goes to Hawaii. TARC receives its newest CARF Accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. TARC Executive Director presents at the QDDP Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. TARC presents at the OCDD Provider Meeting on Positive Personal Profiles. TARC partners with the Louisiana Governor’s Office on Employment First Initiatives in the state. TARC participates in the Community Resource Day for Leadership Terrebonne.
2019- TARC wins the Lelia Shaw Award from the Arc of Louisiana. All individuals working in TARC businesses receive minimum wage. Options Plus partnered with Council on Aging and entered several individuals into their Community Senior Program. TARC partnered with Delgado Community College’s Occupational Therapy program to have 4 interns for 3 weeks to learn as well as teach staff techniques for the individuals we serve. TARC hosted members of the Louisiana State Tourism staff at Cajun Confections for future tourism opportunities. TARC partnered with Barker Honda for a community-wide fundraising opportunity in which individuals participated in the check giveaway and event held at the car dealership. TARC was chosen to participate in a national program from the state regarding Provider Transformation ideals and philosophies. TARC nationally certified two Employment Specialists in Customized Employment through MG&A, which also included one-of-a-kind training at TARC by Mike Callahan, the co-founder of MG&A. TARC sent a representative to the National Conference of Execs in Charleston, South Carolina. TARC participated in the Governor’s Office of Disabilities Conference in Baton Rouge. TARC presented at the Kiwanis International Club on TARC and the Aktion Club. TARC Executive Director was chosen to speak on a Professional Panel for Employment at the AAIDD Conference in Alexandria. Creative Employment Opportunities attended the SILC Inclusion Job and Resource Fair with many CEO jobseekers.
2020- Krewe of Hercules sponsored Let’s Get Together Annual Party Gras at the Hercules Den. TARC Executive Director joins state committee to redesign Vocational Services and New Waiver. Due to a state-wide stay-at-home order, TARC closed on March 18, 2020, due to COVID-19. TARC reopened to staff on May 4, 2020. And on June 22, 2020, for the initial phase for returning TARC individuals, per State guidelines. Day Habilitation opened on December 1, 2020. TARC participates in the community resource day at the Houma Municipal Auditorium. TARC partners with the LSU Food Science department for Houma Grown machine upgrades.
2021- TARC officially opens Bayou Country Café on January 20, 2021.
