CARC co-founder: Carlsbad's growth has not changed mission to aid special needs people
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During a recent walk at the CARC, INC. Farm north of Carlsbad, Bob Forrest noted a change in the landscape as more people have moved into what used to be a former bird sanctuary area worrying him that people may have lost sight of the organization's mission.
A former Carlsbad mayor, Forrest and his wife Barbara purchased the New Mexico Bird Farm in 1973 to provide a place for adults and kids with special needs a place to work and live.
Bob Forrest and CARC, INC. Development Director Karla Niemeier said the organization's mission to provide services for the developmentally disabled has not changed over the past 50 years.
“The influx of new people don’t know CARC, (INC.) is here,” said Niemeier.
Carlsbad’s population in 2010 was 26,251, per data from the United States Census. Four years ago, during the last census, the community had a population of 32,238.
The Forrest family founded CARC, INC. to honor late son Gary Forrest who was born in 1963 with Down syndrome. He died in 2022.
More: Late son of former Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest inducted into Carlsbad Hall of Fame
Niemeier said CARC, INC. launched a new effort to rekindle the longtime relationship between the organization and the community.
Mary Garwood, Ward 3 Carlsbad City Councilor and Keep Carlsbad Beautiful executive director, worked with CARC, INC's residential and vocational sections from 2003 through 2015.
She said CARC, INC. has endured a growth spurt and the COVID-19 pandemic over the past five years.
"The pandemic caused stress in every aspect of life for each of us, and CARC, INC. was certainly not excluded. With the growing population in our area, it's a great time to share CARC, INC.'s story and mission for all to hear," she said.
What does CARC, INC. offer?
The farm and campus is a self-contained community with a health center, horticulture program, thrift store, dinning hall, pecan processing operations and housing for the special needs people.
Cynthia Flaco is a registered nurse in the health center and said medical staff have a series of day-to-day functions.
“We do everything medically (for what) they need,” she said.
Flaco said individuals with developmentally disabled needs must meet certain standards before admission to CARC, INC.
She said medical staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet the needs of the special needs individuals.
The dining hall is a short walk from the medical facility as three different lunches are served to individuals, said Katrina Hernandez, dietary manager.
She said lunch preparation starts every day around 8 a.m. as dining staffers look at menu’s the day before to see what ingredients might be needed for preparation.
She said individuals are served breakfast and dinner at the housing units on the campus and another group home on Guadalupe Street and at Washington Ranch, nearly 30 miles southwest of Carlsbad.
On average, Hernandez said 100 to 160 lunches are served daily.
“We work hard on the meals,” she said.
CARC, INC. offers employment services
Niemeier said the Country Store and Greenhouse is a horticulture program where flowers are grown and sold to the general public,
Flowers are also planted and maintained by CARC, INC. clients and residents at businesses in Carlsbad and Loving.
More: Are pecans driving New Mexico's drought? Heat, lack of rain predicted in coming weeks
Individuals also process pecans at CARC, INC.’s Pecos Valley Pecans, which are sold at the Country Store and various locations in Carlsbad, according to Niemeier.
Janitorial services are another function for CARC, INC. clients. Niemeier said the organization's properties are cleaned regularly and offsite cleaning services are offered at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park.
David Heckard, park director, said the park and CARC, INC. have a long-term partnership that benefits both parties.
“The State Parks Division of the (New Mexico) Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) is committed to supporting children and adults with disabilities to be active and engaged with their state park and local community,” he said.
Another off campus job site for CARC, INC. individuals is shredding services for unwanted documents at 103 East Greene Street.
Garwood said the document destruction is a victory for CARC, INC., Carlsbad and Eddy County.
"(Document shredding is a) huge bonus for taxpayers is it saves space in our Sandpoint Landfill as it keeps out paper waste products. It's a win-win for everyone involved," she said.
Individuals and staffers sort through recyclable materials and bale them and are shipped off to market for reuse.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: CARC Inc. still on a mission to help special needs persons in Carlsbad
