NEWBURYPORT — Caring, kindness and giving people a second chance were on the lips of many people at the Newburyport Masonic Center Monday afternoon, when Housing Support Inc. hosted its first-ever St. Patrick’s Day luncheon.
The event was hosted as a fundraiser for the local nonprofit housing development corporation which provides housing and related support, as well as addiction services to veterans, low income, homeless and disabled individuals in Essex and Rockingham counties.
State Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, who was one of many politicians at the luncheon, called Housing Support an “excellent organization to get behind,” especially with the state’s current housing crunch.
“The housing crisis is particularly acute for certain groups among us,” he said. “Housing Support supports those groups day and night to be able to make sure that there is housing available in a very very challenging climate.”
Scores of people packed the hall and dined on corned beef and cabbage, while Mayor Sean Reardon played master of ceremonies. Waiting for everyone to be served, Reardon got people engaged with some St. Patrick’s Day trivia.
He said, to some astonishment, The Park Lunch restaurant on Merrimac Street typically goes through 500 pounds of corned beef each March 17.
He also asked the crowd which were the two best places to go on the holiday. They resoundingly replied The Park Lunch and The Port Tavern.
“I worked in both of those places for quite a long time,” Reardon said. “And I do think they are the two best places to go on St. Patrick’s Day.”
Boston Bruins singer Todd Angilly also gave a stirring acapella rendition of the national anthem, while the Murray Academy of Irish Dance of Exeter, New Hampshire performed Irish step dancing. One particular young man wowed the crowd with some very high kicks.
Tarr, state Rep. Dawne Shand, D-Newburyport, as well as Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker joined Reardon at the head table.
Known to be late to events on occasion, Tarr made light of his chronic tardiness, as well as his penchant for long-windedness while at a podium.
Tucker also took a shot at Tarr’s habit of making long speeches.
“I’m a little worried, I parked on Titcomb Street, which has a two-hour limit,” he said. “Then I saw Bruce was on the speaking program.”
Tucker also said he went looking for a few St. Patrick’s Day jokes to tell to loosen up the crowd.
“(I asked Google for) some Irish jokes,” he said. “In big letters, it said, ‘there are no more funny Irish jokes. Don’t even try, speak from the heart.’”
Saying he took that advice, Tucker pivoted to why he believes Newburyport is a caring community.
“When I walked in here, it was a very special feeling,” he said. “One of the things that I think gets lost in an upside down, topsy-turvy world is things like caring, second chances, opportunities.”
Housing Support, according to Tucker, provides those things to people in need of a little help.
“To me, that’s what this is all about,” he said.
In Amesbury, Housing Support Inc. maintains the Quinn House, the Bartlett House, the Main Street Veterans Residence as well as the Main Street Supportive Residence.
The company also has the Parker Street Residence, the E. James Gaines Veterans Residence and the High Street Residence in Lawrence, as well as the Webster Building in Haverhill along with the Kingston Veterans Residence in Kingston, New Hampshire.
The emotional highlight of the afternoon was when Terry Murphy, the late Housing Support house manager at the Quinn House was named Irish Woman of the Year.
Murphy worked at the Quinn House for about a year before she passed away of natural causes in December.
Program manager Fred Davis said his only demand when taking on his current role was that he could bring Murphy with him.
“I knew Terry for over 20 years,” he said. “She came over to (the Quinn House which was known as The Elms at the time) and I like to think we changed the narrative. We’ve got a house of about 24 men and I would say a third of them are attending school now.”
Housing Support, according to Davis, regularly receives calls from parents, spouses as well as children of people struggling with addiction.
“Terry came in and showed unconditional love for every guy in the house,” he said.
Murphy, Shand said, was a gift to everyone who met her.
“What a spirit to have,” she said.
Murphy’s daughter, Sajin Hoxie accepted the award on behalf of her late mother. Soon after, she confessed her mother would have been mortified that so many people were talking about her.
“This is something she worked for her whole life and I’m just glad that she’s being recognized for all of her hard work,” she said.
Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.