Mr. Randolph "Raymond" Brown
November 2, 2006
HONORING AMERICA’S SOLDIERS
November 7, 2006
It’s time again for the 5th annual Terrebonne Association Retarded Citizens community outreach program’s Holiday Open House Nov. 11 complete with live music, sweets and arts and crafts created by the TARC clients.
TARC Adult Service Manager/Marketing Erica Null, said the TARC main goals are to give the community insight on all the different aspects of the organization as well as an opportunity to purchase items from the Country Store.
TARC’s arts and crafts department is showcasing its Christmas collection display, which features folk artist Paula Lapeyrouse and folk photographer Teri Boudreaux. The Sweet Sensations and salsa departments are hosting tastings of the various homemade treats. And the greenhouse department will have plants, pumpkins and poinsettias for sale.
The fun isn’t limited to adults either, Null said. Children can enjoy a train ride, a romp in the pumpkin patch and a visit from a very special guest, she said.
TARC’s musical therapy groups will also entertain the crowd. Null said several different bands will provide their own unique sounds. Visitors will hear Bayou Samba, the TARC Bell Choir and the TARC Express Band.
“Our affiliate, the Sunshine Express Daycare, is going to put on a Thanksgiving Day performance,” Null said.
TARC Community Outreach Director Mary Lynn Bisland said the Holiday Open House makes it possible to share with the community all of the great things TARC does for its clients. The Country Store, which includes TARC’s restaurant and gift shop, is the organization’s window to the community.
“A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to take time off to visit the store during regular store hours, so we created the Holiday Open House, which is held on a Saturday as a way for them to come in and eat breakfast or lunch or browse through the Country Store,” Bisland explained.
TARC provides pre-vocational and vocational training, employment matches, therapy, transportation and creates residential opportunities for clients, Null noted.
“TARC serves clients with a variety of diagnoses and syndromes,” she said. “More than 1,000 people are supported in TARC and more than 200 of them are employed.”
We, a;lThe open house begins Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. at the TARC restaurant.
For more information about TARC and the Holiday Open House, contact Null at (985) 876-4465.
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