We're Here to Help
EARC was founded in 1969 with the mission to provide a better quality of life and encourage greater independence to individuals with developmental disabilities
EARC is an inspiring agency where individuals can see their accomplishments and find pride in their success.
Who We Are
EARC provides unique experiences for each client
Employment And Residential Centers (EARC) is our name, but that is only the beginning of our mission. EARC is more than a place to work. It is more than a home. It is a place to succeed. Our mission is to provide a better quality of life and encourage greater independence to individuals with developmental disabilities. EARC is an inspiring agency where individuals can see their accomplishments and find pride in their success.
A number of EARC clients remain in their homes and our staff are able to offer in-home support.
We also operate two group homes where residents learn daily living skills such as housekeeping, hygiene and budgeting.
Our Approach
Opportunities for better quality of life begin in the home
— Services
We operate two group homes where residents learn daily living skills such as housekeeping, hygiene and budgeting.
For clients with more severe disabilities, the Nova Centre is an intermediate care facility which has 24-hour care and training.
EARC also offers Daily Living Support homes that provide continuous staff services for instruction and supervision.
Independence also means earning wages and contributing to the community.
The Trails Sheltered Workshop is a facility which offers individuals the opportunity to learn work skills and receive a paycheck. Some individuals can work alongside non-disabled workers with the help of a job coach, through community integrated employment.
—Retail Stores
We offer unique shopping experiences at our three retail stores, two in Edmond and one in Guthrie. Our 15th street store in Edmond offers a boutique shopping experience with more upscale items while the Guthrie store and the Edmond 3rd street store offer a more traditional thrift store shopping experience.
Donations are welcome! We accept used furniture in good condition, working appliances, clothing, shoes, books, tools, collectibles and knick knacks. We are unable to accept mattresses due to health department regulations.
Donations are tax deductible, and we provide tax receipts.
For donation pick up contact us at (405) 219-9133.
— Charitable Giving
Invest in a successful future for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Your donations, purchases or your direct financial support help fund over 75 full and part time EARC clients and employees. EARC has an overall financial impact on the Edmond community of over $500,000 annually.
Our History
EARC was founded in 1969 with the mission to provide a better quality of life to individuals with developmental disabilities.
EARC originally focused on increasing public awareness and providing education on disability issues, but it was obvious that the agency could do so much more. EARC programs now provide housing, job training, employment and other crucial services.
The first Thrift Store was opened in 1970, not only to raise funds but as an opportunity for employment for EARC clients. It still thrives today as a favorite place to shop and a convenient location to donate goods. In 1980, an additional Thrift Store was opened in Guthrie.
Helping to provide residential homes for clients was an immediate goal for EARC. Group homes were opened in 1982 and 1985 to house six residents each and provide education in independent living such as housekeeping, hygiene and budgeting. EARC also began offering in-home support services, placing a habilitation trainer each week in an individual or family’s home.
EARC opened its own intermediate care facility in 1989 for adults with more severe disabilities
The Nova Centre is home to 16 residents with 24-hour care and training.
In 1986, EARC opened The Trails Sheltered Workshop. This facility offers individuals the opportunity to learn work skills through subcontracted jobs and receive a paycheck. EARC established community integrated employment opportunities in 1989 through The Trails. This service provided individual assistance in securing and maintaining employment in the community.
By the 1990’s, a work Enclave of four was traveling from The Trails to Guthrie each weekday to be employed alongside non-disabled workers in our thrift store.
In May 2006, EARC opened another Thrift Store in Edmond on 15th Street and added a donation processing center at the original Thrift Store as a new work Enclave.
Most recently, EARC opened four Daily Living Support homes that also provide continuous staff services for individuals who require 24-hour supervision.
Partners
