Anthony is curating beads that have once again been donated beans for processing and resale to Carnival enthusiasts. STARC always sells out each Carnival season, says STARC's director.
Twelfth Night has passed, king cake sales and consumption are skyrocketing, and thoughts have turned to upcoming Mardi Gras parades and the highly coveted beads and trinkets thrown by the krewes.
For more than 30 years, STARC's bead recycling and resale program has created both training and job opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Clients learn to clean, organize, and repackage beads, which are in turn sold to float riders for $45 per crawfish sack. Each sack holds 30-40 dozen beads of assorted sizes and colors. Pricing is competitive. STARC is not the only bead recycler in town. Some years, it has been necessary to rent storage sheds to hold beads before processing.
Every year, STARC looks to the community for donations of Mardi Gras throws. Think of those huge bags of beads in your closet you were saving for ... what? STARC has a huge bin for bead donations in front of both their locations. A quick drive-by and deposit can free up some space in your closet and provide the confidence that comes with a regular paycheck. Clients also enjoy working together as part of a team at this task.
STARC works with more than 600 clients to provide a variety of services that range from job placement and training to home services for clients (so greatly appreciated by their families). These community homes are staffed 24/7.
When it comes to the bead recycling program, it helps fulfill STARC's primary mission of improving the lives of people with disabilities.
Mark Baham, executive director of STARC, reminds everyone to look for the "throw back" float at the end of St. Tammany Mardi Gras parades that are there to the collect beads thrown back by revelers. "We are so grateful to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office for providing this for us every year. They dump tons of beads after each parade. We never have a problem selling, and we always sell out."
STARC locations are at 4021 US 190 East in Slidell and 1705 Viola St. in Mandeville, and the STARC website is available at starcla.org.
For bead donors who can't make it to either location, call Cindy Sanders at a (985) 641-0197, ext. 310, to arrange a pickup, or send an email to [email protected].