The Milam Association for Retarded Children (MARC) was founded in 1965 by a group of parents, citizens and community leaders who wanted to expand opportunities for children with mental retardation in Milam County.
MARC began in 1965 as an after school program on the elementary school campus. Later, the program occupied donated space in Dr. John Armour?s clinic on Murray Street for several years. In 1972, the old Steelworkers Union Hall was donated to the group and moved to 2618 Grace Street. It was renovated with a $10,000 ALCOA Foundation Grant and local support to become the MARC Center.
The role of the MARC Center has evolved in the past 40 years. A program that began serving children with disabilities became a Center for adults with mental retardation. The organization was incorporated and changed its name to Milam Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. to reflect the people that it serves.
From the beginning, the MARC Board of Directors has taken an active role as advocates for persons who attend the MARC Center and their families. The board is composed of citizens and parents who volunteer their time and talents to make a difference in the lives of adults with mental retardation. The staff at the MARC Center are employees of Central Counties Center for MHMR Services of Temple. Central Counties Center MHMR provides day training and services at the MARC Center.
Persons who attend the Center are transported daily by vans to and from the Center. While at the Center, participants take part in a planned program. They assemble picnic packs (napkin, utensils, etc in a sealed bag) for sale to commercial vendors and individuals. The Center also operates a commercial pecan cracker and cracks pecans for $.25 per pound. The Center has a contract with a Hutto printing firm for MARC consumers to prepare absentee ballots for mailing. Those who attend the Center are paid for the work they perform.
The Adult Basic Education Program (ABE), paid for by Region VI Service Center in Huntsville, provides a teacher for approximately 10 hours a week to work with groups and individuals at the Center. The ABE teacher works with the person on skills that have been identified for that year at the annual meeting with Central Counties MHMR, the individual and their family.
The MARC Center participates in a monthly activity sponsored by the Board. Each year, the MARC Center hosts a Halloween party and invites groups from the surrounding area. A Christmas lunch is sponsored every year for individuals and their families. The carnival in May is a favorite of the group. A swimming party at the city pool in July brings families together. In June, several consumers from our Center go to a 5 day overnight camp. For those who do not attend camp, special activities of their choosing are scheduled during this week.
In 1998, the MARC Board received a $115,315 ALCOA Foundation Grant to build a new MARC Center. Ground was broke in March of 2000 and the building was completed in August of 2000. The community provided the additional financial support needed to construct the new Center. The new facility was double the size of the Grace Street building. The old MARC Center had served us well but the new building provided many opportunities to expand and improve the services of the Center. For the first time, we have a covered driveway for vans to load and unload on hot days and during rainy weather. The restroom facilities are truly ADA compliant and make it much easier for our participants in wheelchairs to negotiate. Most of all, there is ample space for all the activities at the Center.
