Rosamae Neil Smith
April 14, 2008
Charles "Charlie" Herbert Rice Jr.
April 16, 2008
For the first time in the Terrebonne Association for Retarded Citizen’s 46 years, the organization is opening an off-campus business.
A grand opening ceremony will be held April 22, at 9 a.m., at TARC’s Cedar Chest Boutique and Creative Employment Oppor-tunities center on West Main Street in Houma. That Tuesday, the Cedar Chest Boutique will hold a door-buster sale; all donated clothing will be on sale for $1.
“This is a big deal for us to have a business off campus,” said store director Tiffany Brunet. “For 46 years, we have worked with the community. Now we have an opportunity to work in the community. This location will be similar to a satellite location for TARC.”
TARC recently purchased the building – 6453 West Main St. The one-time boutique has been converted to house both the thrift shop and job service center, Brunet said.
TARC’s marketing/advocacy and community outreach director Erica Null hopes this venture opens the door to more off-campus businesses in the community.
The idea to open an “upscale” resale thrift shop was derived from other ARC organizations across Louisiana.
“ARCs around the state have opened thrift shops and they are having great success with them. We wanted our local ARC to be just as prosperous,” Null said.
The thrift store will accept all household donations, excluding major appliances, according to Brunet.
As with TARC’s Sweet Sensations and Restaurant and Gift Shop, the monies raised will be reinvested to ensure TARC’s success.
“We are doing this for our participants. We want them to be able to have everything they need and make the best of their lives,” Brunet said.
Operating a thrift shop and employment center out of the same site may not be the norm, but Null said it’s a natural progression. Job trainers will be able to frequent the Creative Employment Opportunities center to help prepare TARC participants for the local job market.
Job training has actually been a component of TARC since the outset; however, this is the first time it is being offered as a stand-alone business away from the TARC campus, Null said.
“That’s why we gave the business a name. We want all our businesses to be recognized as an entity of TARC, but more importantly, for what they offer to the community,” she said.
TARC has more than 13 different businesses on the TARC campus, providing everything from meals to lawn maintenance.
The thrift shop and employment center are among the programs envisioned by TARC Executive Director Mary Lynn Bisland. She assumed the helm of the Terrebonne organization last year.
“Mary has a wealth of ideas, and she has really transformed TARC over this last year,” said Brunet. “She has come up with some new and innovative ideas that are proving to be very beneficial to TARC and its participants.”
“She’s thinking outside of the box,” she added.
In coming weeks, Tri-parish residents will be able to drop their donated items at the thrift shop. For now, all donations are to be made at TARC, No. 1 McCord Road in Houma, or by calling (985) 876-4465, extension 357.
The Creative Employment Opportunities business will host an open house April 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. Null said the ceremony will be geared toward TARC participants and the local regulatory agencies that employ them.
Tina LeBlanc, of the Cedar Chest Boutique & Creative Employment Opportunities, sorts items for the Houma site’s April 22 grand opening. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN
