About TARC

TARC has been a part of the community of Hammond and the Florida Parishes of Louisiana for over 45 years. Through this website you can find out more about all of the services we provide to individuals with disabilities and their families. Currently TARC provides Early Intervention Services, TARC Day Habilitation Program, Community Supports and Services; including Supported Independent Living.

We hope that you browse through our website and read about the services we provide, and please contact us if we can be of assistance to you, your family, or anyone you know of in need of services.

History of tarc…serving people with disabilities

A little bit of history…The Methodist Church in Hammond was where we began in January 1973 with a class of six individuals with various disabilities.  What a long road this organization has traveled to get to where we are today, serving over 100 infants and toddlers in our Early Intervention Program and over 300 families in our Advocacy/Case Management Program.

Throughout the years of TARC’s progression, one factor that has remained constant is our community involvement.  As early as the 1950s the people of Tangipahoa Parish have shown a genuine concern for individuals with disabilities.  In 1956, the Hammond Civilian Club was organized to aid children with intellectual disabilities.  In 1958 this organization began to enroll students and Mrs. Vita Schilling was hired as a homebound teacher.

During the 1960s, a great deal took place to cut a pathway for improvement for children with disabilities.  In 1960 the Ponchatoula Civitan was organized and Mrs. Vivian Hollis started a class for the children of the Ponchatoula area.  In 1961, Dr. C. M. Fagan was the first president of Parents and Friends for special needs Children.  About this same time Ponchatoula and Amite formed their own Association for special needs Citizens.  Not long after that Hammond State School opened as a 24-hour facility for people with intellectual disabilities.  However, the state school did not have a day program for non-residents so towards the end of the 1960s a sheltered workshop, known as C. M. Fagan Special Services, opened for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Even though time was bringing out the right attitudes, our area still lacked an environment that would serve and meet the daily needs of individual children with special needs. How very fortunate for the people of Tangipahoa Parish that the Pirosko family decided to move into our area in 1972. Joseph and Mary Pirosko had a son, Steven, who was born with Down syndrome. Immediately after settling in, the Piroskos joined the Hammond-Ponchatoula ARC. It did not take long for the Piroskos to recognize the lack of services our area provided for children with special needs. They had previously lived in Illinois where Steven’s needs were fully met. The program Steven was in provided services from “the cradle to the grave” so to speak. They had seen what was provided in Illinois for their son and decided to find a way to bring those services to our area. Mary Pirosko accepted the challenge. She was determined to make a difference for her special needs child and other children with disabilities like him. She began to make contacts and started working with the Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities to develop a Day Developmental Training Center in Tangipahoa Parish.

In the fall of 1972, Mary solicited our community for help in starting a class for disabled children. And help is what she got. The founding members of the Hammond-Ponchatoula ARC stood firmly behind her beliefs. Some of the members of this group were Mrs. Shirley Vitter, Mrs. Hazel Fletcher, Joe DeMarco, and Mr. & Mrs. C. M. Fagan. Before long a classroom was provided at the Methodist Church in Hammond through the help of Katie Wainwright. The Knights of Columbus donated tables and chairs. But two vital factors were still missing, a teacher, director, and funding. Being the driven determined person, Mary Pirosko is, she convinced Steven’s teacher in Illinois to move to Louisiana and undertake the mission to start a class in our area. A vision was finally starting to emerge. By the end of 1972, Barry Meyer and his wife, Ellen moved to Hammond to assist Mary in her mission. But there was still the problem of funding and the state would not make any provisions until the organization was self-sufficient for one year.

Mary would not give up. She contacted Hank Jones, president of the Police Jury, his jurors, and the City of Hammond pleading for funds. And again our community made us proud. Each group donated $2500.00 but we still lacked the final $2500.00 needed. The generous late Buddy Billups donated the remaining $2500.00 needed to get started. So in January 1973, the Hammond Ponchatoula ARC name was changed to the Tangipahoa ARC and the first class was started serving six children with various levels of special needs and developmental disabilities. Barry Meyer, presently Executive Director of Baton Rouge ARC, was the first supervisor and the organization was run on a budget of $7000.00 for one year. Families were solicited through fliers handed out at the Hammond A & P Grocery Store by the Piroskos and Meyers. The many long hours and hard work had paid off. The Pirosko’s dream along with many others was finally a reality.

By 1974, TARC had expanded to four classes. The Methodist Church in Hammond and Amite held classes and an additional class was held at the Christian Church in Hammond. With the establishment of Public Law 94-142 providing ALL children from ages 3-22 with free and appropriate education, TARC began directing its efforts toward infants and toddlers under the age of 3 and adults with developmental disabilities.

1980 -Sylvia Bush was hired as TARC’s first Executive Director in 1979. TARC’s focus became sheltered work activities for adults and early intervention for infants. Clients began working in the community, work crews developed, and the first community home for women, Our House, was opened in the 1980s. By the mid-1980s, TARC operated its first supervised apartment program in Tangipahoa Parish. A community home for men, the Fortenberry House, was opened.

1989- It became apparent by 1989 that two separate organizations were needed to address the growing needs of people with disabilities. So OPTIONS was created for adult clients and on July l, 1990 TARC and OPTIONS began operating as two separate agencies each with their own Director and own Board of Directors. TARC hired a new director, Chris Nuss, and continued to provide infant services. Our newly created organization, OPTIONS, began providing vocational and residential services with Sylvia Bush as their director.

Through all of this expansion, change, and growth, funding remained an issue. Each year brought new state cuts and the struggle continues. TARC is constantly searching for new funds through the state and federal government to expand our services to children and adults with disabilities. United Way also provides support to our organization. But the money we receive is never enough due to the rising cost of the services we provide, therefore, TARC began its own fundraising in 1985.

So once a year, TARC raises its own funds to supplement the monies we receive from the state and United Way. Radiothon has been in existence since 1985 with each year’s support more and more astounding. It is broadcast live for two days on WFPR/WHMD. Area dignitaries bring in pledges and raise money on the air during a designated time. The energy generated during this time is unbelievable. Radiothon has raised as much as $75,000 in two days Penny Power was created in 1991 accessing our Tangipahoa Parish schools. TARC felt it was a way for the children in our area to be a part of helping individuals who are not as fortunate as they are. This fundraiser has raised as much as $63,000. Each participating class in a school collects all denominations of coins and cash for one week to donate to TARC. If they meet a certain goal they win a pizza party for their class. TARC had no idea when Penny Power was implemented what the actual results would be. In 1991 the students within the parish collected $1200.00 in change but by l997 over $15,000.00 was collected. It has grown so big that we had to ask the 231st Air National Guard to volunteer their services to help collect and count the coins as well as transport the coin to the bank for deposit. We could not handle the mass amount of coins during this fundraiser without these wonderful guys.

Under the direction of Tammy Earles, TARC’s newest director, another program was added in 1991 called Case Management. This program provides services to children over three years of age through adulthood with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Due to growth at TARC, in May 1994, a second location was opened at North Cypress Street and both Case Management and Administration moved in. In 1995, Melinda Bass took over as Executive Director of TARC. Many changes were taking place at this time especially in our funding sources. Many vital decisions were also being made during this crucial time. Melinda was busy finalizing the purchase of a new state van, the annual audit was going on, and the running of two offices became just another challenge.

In 1997, TARC finally received its first 10-passenger Dodge van from the state to transport children to and from our Early Intervention Program. This dream too became a reality.

HISTORY OF KIDS ‘R’ US EARLY LEARNING CENTER

Kids ‘R’ Us Early Learning Center began on June 5, 2000, as an extension of TARC’s Early Intervention Centerbase Program. Parents who had their children enrolled in Centerbase and were not ready for their three-year-old child to transition into the school system, mentioned that it would be wonderful to have a Child Care Center that was prepared and willing to accept their special needs child. TARC seemed to be an ideal place since it already had available resources and highly qualified staff. Tracy Garner did the research and applied for the license and Kids ‘R’ Us opened with five children and four staff members. Due to the need in the community, Kids ‘R’ Us soon had to increase the capacity from 32 to 64 children, expand the hours of operation, and add infant care and more classrooms. Kids ‘R’ Us now employees 16 staff.

In June 2002, we added an overhang on the front of the Day Care building.

We also provide two rooms for Speech, Occupational and Physical therapy. In order to provide better nutrition without increasing tuition, we joined the State Food Program in October 2004.

In the summer of 2007, we did an extensive playground improvement and are proud to be the only local Child Care Center with a universally accessible play environment created to enable children of all abilities to play side-by-side. Money for this project came from Blues and BBQ Funds.

Due to funding, the Kids ‘R’ Us Daycare Program was closed in October of 2013. The daycare program directed by Yvonne Saltzman served the community for 13 years.

VISION-

The vision of Kids ‘R’ Us is to have a loving all-inclusive center where children of all abilities would learn alongside each other. Children with disabilities would feel accepted and have role models and the children without special needs would learn to accept and be comfortable around children that were a little different from them. We want to be able to detect delays in children in our center and provide guidance and information to parents. We also use this opportunity to educate the community on the importance of inclusion and that this environment can only benefit all children.

HISTORY OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES PROGRAM

TARC’s Community Supports and Services Program began in the spring of 2001.  Tracy Garner was the first director.  The overall goal of the CSS Program is to provide personalized services for persons with developmental disabilities.  It is intended to support individuals with needed care and assistance and to serve as an option in lieu of institutionalization.

 Personal Care Services are provided by Direct Support Workers (DSW’S).  DSW’s provide support for the consumer in his/her own home, such as cooking, food preparation, bathing, dressing, hygiene, transportation, leisure activities, ambulation, physical assistance, and any other function of daily living as determined necessary.  DSW’s will also assist with social skills and interactions and self-advocacy training.  Certified Medication Administrators will also assist with medication.

 TARC is currently licensed to provide the New Opportunities Waiver, Supported Independent Living, EPSDT, Louisiana Children’s Choice, and the Residential Opportunities Waiver.

 TARC hired a contract Nurse to work with the agency in the CSS Department due to the state mandates in February of 2011.

HISTORY ADD-ONS (4/2O/2010)

Land for the Administration building was purchased from Bobby Maurin. Funds donated from the estate of Mildred Furbois were used to purchase the land. The first building was donated in December 2003 from the Hood Auto Group of Hammond, LLC. Administration staff moved into the building about May 2004. The second building was donated in March 2008 from Hood Auto Group of Hammond, LLC. We moved into this building in May 2008.

In May of 2009, Melinda Shaffet resigned as CEO after 15 years of service. On May 26, 2009, Kathleen Abels took over as Chief Executive Officer of TARC. November 2009 Abels recruited Livingston Parish businessmen and women to join the TARC Board of Directors to represent the Livingston Parish area of Region 9.

Hammond BBQ was founded in 2003. This is a local BBQ contest in our community and takes place in downtown Hammond. TARC is one of the beneficiaries of the proceeds. We secure sponsors, entertainment, work the merchandise tents, and do whatever we are asked of the Blues and BBQ Board.

From November of 2009 thru November 2014, TARC held the Theta XI Scramble for TARC Golf Tournament with Theta XI Paternity at Carter Plantation in Springfield, Louisiana. The golf tournament was started with the help of Shane Nicaud. The last year for the golf tournament was November 2014 due to the amount of time and money needed to hold the event the board decided to discontinue the event and look for a new event to replace it and that could generate more funds.

In April of 2011, Abels worked with the Livingston Parish Chambers Education Committee to incorporate the Ability Beyond Scholarship into their Academic Scholarship Program. The concept of the scholarship was to recognize high school seniors that received modifications due to a physical disability and or a learning disability from the Livingston Parish School Board LEA Program to reach their goal of receiving a high school diploma and continuing their education by attending college. The scholarship presented was $1000. The scholarship has continued each year since 2011.

The TARC Board of Directors voted in early 2011 to begin the application process of obtaining a gaming license to conduct Bingo sessions with Cypress Palace. In October 2011 TARC began its first sessions of Bingo with Cypress Palace in Hammond. TARC also conducted bingo sessions in Sun Louisiana from 2013-2014.

Josh Randall and the members of the AWOL Jeep Club along with other local surrounding area jeep clubs held the Louisiana 4x Fest in Hammond on June 23, 2012. The event raised $10,000.

 The Middendorf’s Manchac Run designated the proceeds to Kid’s R Us Daycare in November of 2012. The event had 681 runners and the total proceeds from the event were $9400.

 In January 2013 the concrete parking lot was completed in front of the administrative building on 408 North Cypress Street with grant money from the McClure Fund and fundraising funds.

 TARC held its 1st Valentine Social for the clients at the Day Care building with funds from the Hammond Kiwanis Club.

 Daniel Mercante along with other community members built a playhouse to raffle for TARC in 2013. The raffle raised over $2000. This was a one-time event due to CASA raffling a playhouse annually.

 May 2014 - TARC was registered with the Quilt Trail. The Springfield High School gifted program designed the quilt and the Springfield High School Builders Club supplied the materials to complete the project.

 June 2014 - Cart N Swim in Ponchatoula donated a Custom Built Saints Golf Cart for TARC to raffle. The raffle raised over $23,000. In 2015 Cart N Swim donated a red Roadster Golf Cart raising over $16,000. 2016 Cart N Swim donated a seafoam green golf cart with whitewall tires raising $12,000. 2017 the golf cart donated was a hand-painted Tiger raising $15,000. 2018 the Red, White, and Blue Golf Cart from Cart n Swim raised $20,000. The 2019 Swamp theme golf cart from Cart N Swim raised $ 20,000. The 2020 Metallic Gray Golf Cart raised $20,000.

 January 2015- Robin Abram Director along with Jimmy France as Co-Director held the 1st Annual “Very Special Miss Louisiana Pageant” in January 2015 in Hammond with 20 contestants. The event raised $3400. The second annual “Very Special Miss Louisiana” was held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with 20 contestants in December 2015. The event raised $5200. The 3rd Annual “Very Special Miss Louisiana Pageant” was held at the Oak Tree church in Hammond with 22 contestants raising $6000. The 4th Annual “Very Special Miss Louisiana” was held at the Oak Tree Church in Hammond with 32 contestants, raising $5000.

 Ambassadors of Very Special Miss Louisiana

2015- Maddie Latino
2016 – Lark
2017- Grace Graugnard
2018 – Brooke Sutton
2019- Kristen Duhe
2020- Lindsey Lamarca
2021- Piper Walters

January 2015 – TARC hired JC Events on contract to work with TARC’s major Fundraising (Penny Power, Radiothon, Very Special Miss Louisiana, website and Facebook updates. 

 February 2015 -The Springfield High School FFA Club sponsored the Glow Run at the Tickfaw State Park. The event raised $1800.

 On February 6, 2015, the TARC Day Hab facility passed the final licensing inspection. The TARC Day Hab opened the doors for service on June 24, 2015, with 2 clients. Floyd Colkmire as the Director, and Roxanne Leblanc as the Supervisor of the Day Hab.

November 12, 2015 – Direct Support Professionals lost the Companionship status and TARC had to begin to pay overtime for any Direct Support Professional’s working over 40 hours in a workweek.

January 29, 2016- TARC celebrated 25 years of Penny Power.

February 24, 2016- Grand opening for TARC Day Habilitation Program. The program opened on June 24, 2015. Roxanne LeBlanc, Supervisor, Floyd Colkmire as the Director. 2016-2017 Amy Purvis served as the supervisor. Jackie Martinez was hired on June 6, 2017, as the supervisor, and as of 3-1-2018, the Day Hab has 21 clients enrolled. Transportation was contracted out on October of 2016 with Arc Transportation.

March 11-15 2016 – The Florida Parish’s experienced record flooding in history. Many homes and businesses that never flooded were affected by floodwaters. TARC clients and employees experienced loss of their homes and belongings.

March 2016- Eagle Heights Church enclosed the decking on the back of the administration building where the back building was connected and then removed due to wood and termite damage.

 April of 2017 Champagne Beverage along with Blacken Brew raised $1500 for TARC.

 March 2017 - TARC held the 32nd Annual Radiothon raising over $82,000 this was the largest dollar amount raised in 32 years of hosting Radiothon. Brody Parker age 12 was the youngest celebrity ever on Radiothon raising $2229.00

 2017- Kirk Hooks and the Eagle Heights church began painting the TARC Day Hab building to upgrade the looks of the building.

 August 6, 2017 – 1st Annual Tickfaw River Regatta fundraiser was held in Springfield at Boopulas raising $8000. The event consisted of a Gold Fish Race, Scavenger Hunt, Costume Contest, Manmade Boat Race, and the Bag of Donuts Band performed.

 October of 2017 – TARC released its new logo. The logo was developed as follows T- Teach - A - Assist- R- Reach- C- Connect.

 February 15, 2017, Sue Mathes celebrated 35 years of employment with TARC as the EIP Teacher.

 February 2017- Sue Mathes celebrated 35 years of employment with TARC.

September 23, 2017- Annette Faust celebrated 25 years of employment with TARC.

 March 2018- TARC released the new version and update of the TARC website. The last website version was 2010.

May 18, 2018- TARC purchased a 2012 13 passenger van from Options for the Day Hab program.

 July 2018- TARC was able to purchase a second 15 passenger van with funds donated by the Oscar Tolmas Foundation.

October 1, 2018, Donnell Henderson drove the 13 passenger van for the first time for the TARC Day Habilitation program that opened on June 24, 2015, to pick up clients at designated bus stops.

October 31, 2018 – TARC Day Habilitation Program did not have a deficit in the program for the first time. Factors that made this happen were increasing our enrollment, and purchasing 2 vans so TARC could implement its own transportation.

March-May 2019 TARC partnered with Arc of Louisiana and other agencies to advocate by Marching at the capitol for higher rates for providers. This campaign was a success. Rates were restored back to the 2008 rates.

February 2020 TARC purchased 2 new transportation vans a 15 passenger and a 21 passenger for the Day Hab with certifying 3, chaffers licenses, 3 CDL-certified drivers.

March 2020 TARC did a 1-day Radiothon event raising $46,000.

March 2020 TARC installed a new handicap shower in the Day Hab building it was installed by Southern Strength Construction- for the following - daily day hab needs for clients, Pandemics, hurricanes, etc.

March 21, 2020, COVID 19 Pandemic hit the U.S, and Louisiana was heavily impacted by the pandemic that caused Louisiana to quarantine, wear masks in the community. Many businesses were closed also. The procedures for the pandemic went thru January 2021. TARC received a PPP Loan for $519,000.00, EIDL GRANT FOR $10,000, and the Cares Act funding for- $64,000. Most all fundraisers were canceled we were able to do Penny Power for 2020, and the Annual Golf Cart Raffle donated by Cart n Swim. TARC Administrative staff for the first time worked from home for the first few months then TARC set up a staggering staff schedule in the office to continue safe practices to ensure safety for all. TARC Administrative staff communicated thru weekly Zoom meetings from March 2020- October 2020, also texting, emails, and phone calls. The TARC Day Hab participants met thru Virtual Zoom meetings 2x weekly, and weekly activities were delivered to the clients. 

 July – October 2020 TARC was able to secure an evacuation site for clients thru the LT. Governor Billy Nungesser's office. Board Member Jonathan Taylor helped make the initial contact with the Lt. Governor’s office. TARC prepared for 5 hurricanes with our area being in the direct path each time. We did not have to evacuate to North Louisiana, we sheltered in place for 4 of the storms and evacuated to the Day Hab for the tropical storm that became a CAT 1 hurricane.

August 2020 TARC lost 2 DSP’s Ms. Debra Martin, and Rodger Reitz.

In 2020 TARC had to cancel the Tickfaw River Regatta the Very Special Miss Louisiana Pageant. We were able to do Penny Power, Radiothon, and the Golf Cart Raffle.

September 2020 the inside of the TARC Day Hab building was painted. 

In September 2020 a new roof was installed on the TARC Day Hab building by Southern Strength Construction.

September 2020 TARC Policy Committee created a Pandemic Policy for future Pandemics. TARC’s Board of Directors reviewed the policy and adopted it on September 28, 2020.

November 2020 TARC purchased a 100KW Diesel Generator for the TARC Day Hab for emergency evacuations due to natural disasters.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser spoke out at our Annual Meeting as the guest speaker.

TARC had their first Drive-thru Christmas Party for clients, we had Santa and Ms. Claus, Gifts from Kiwanis, Pizza, and gifts due to COVID.

TARC received a $20,000 donation from Ms. Barbara Wells Lambert’s estate.

TARC rented 3 homes for the first time for our TARC participants to live in versus apartments so that they could experience the home setting of having a back yard, front yard to do outside activities, etc. The first 2 homes were moved in on 1-29-2021, and the 2nd home was moved in on 4-1-2021. With the $20,000 donation from the Barbara Wells Lambert estate, the CEO evaluated each home to see what the needs were and made purchases to help with the needed items.

February 19, 2021, Ms. Liz Ramos passed due to COVID. She had been a TARC client for over 13 years.

TARC staff and clients that wanted the vaccine received the 1st Vaccine shot on March 3, 2021, and the 2nd dose on April 1, 2021.

TARC partnered with Bo’s Extravaganza by doing a fundraiser Pinchin Tails for TARC. We raised $7000 the first year.

The TARC Day Habilitation open back up on April 19, 2021, after being closed for a year due to COVID.

Since TARC’s inception, many changes have occurred. The name changed many times over the years to finally what it is now: TARC…Serving people with disabilities and their families. So many employees have come and gone, directors have changed over the past years but our mission has remained the same…” to provide the best quality of life for those individuals with special needs and developmental disabilities”. Many concerned individuals have made a difference during the last 43 years. So many lives have been touched and changed by these individuals. TARC is very proud of its heritage and the legacy that has been created for nearly three decades. The TARC staff and Board of Directors will continue to strongly push ahead for answers and additional funding in our fight for the right of individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and/or Developmental Disabilities.