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Community steps in to help organizer of Christmas dinner
Photo by James Nix
Jimmy Murphy at his house in Concord. Murphy who has spent years helping others around Christmas with his annual toy drive and Christmas dinner, is getting a helping hand to build a new home.
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Published: June 16, 2009
CONCORD — Jimmy Murphey's mother always taught him that if anyone knocked at the door and asked for something, the right thing to do was share. At 80 years old, that attitude is what he said he has lived by his whole life.
Now, Murphey, who has been running a Christmas dinner to feed others for 40 years and coordinating a toy drive on Christmas Eve for more than 20 years, needs assistance.
Murphey has lived in his house in Concord since 1967. But after several additions on the house with no foundation, no heat, a leaking roof, and other structural problems, he is no longer able to live there.
"Every year, I've seen his home deteriorate," said Michelle Poe, who has volunteered with Murphey's toy drive for nine years. "This last year, he's been sick and had to stay with a neighbor. When I saw he was not able to live in his house, it broke my heart."
Poe and her employer, Toyota of Concord, a major donor to Murphey's toy drive, tried to have the ABC show "Extreme Makeover" help Murphey. After several attempts and no success, she and Toyota have decided to take on the mission locally.
Poe then approached Cabarrus County Building Industry Association. About seven weeks ago, Andy Ragan, the community outreach chair for the association, and Ann Crenella, the executive officer for it, met Poe at Murphey's house.
Ragan said he was shocked at the condition of the house, especially in the bathroom.
"There's a cast iron tub with no grab bars, and I know 80-year-old people need a walk-in shower," Ragan said.
Ragan was even more surprised when he asked Murphey what he needed. Murphey said he was not going to ask for anything.
"If somebody asked what I needed, I could (make a) list," Ragan said. "It was very inspiring to me, and I've been telling everybody he is probably the most selfless person I've ever met."
From that point, Ragan and the Cabarrus County Building Industry Association joined the effort, making phone calls and sending e-mails to get the word out about the Jimmy Murphey Home Project Fund.
Those who are a part of the effort also determined that it would make more sense to demolish Murphey's house and build a new, more energy-efficient one, which would be easier for him to take care of, than to try to fix all of the damage.
Because Murphey still owes about $65,000 for his mortgage before anything can be done, at this point, the goal is to raise that money and then the rest for the approximately $50,000 to $70,000 it will take to demolish and rebuild his house.
The goal is to raise $125,000 and have the project finished by Christmas. So far, the fund has received $27,000 from donations and pledges.
There have also been checks coming in from people living as far away as California, Washington and Florida. Also, Compass Insurance Agency has promised to donate $10 toward the fund for every quote they give someone on insurance.
"A lot of people get discouraged because of the economy and just don't donate anything," Ragan said. "If there are 200 people, and everybody gave $10, that's $2,000."
Poe is counting on the fact that Murphey has served so many people in the past 40 years. She said a quarter of a million people have received some sort of assistance from Murphey.
Murphey's Christmas dinner was started by his mother, Rosa Murphey, in the 1930s after she was refused assistance at the social services department.
Rosa Murphey then decided that she would do everything she could so others would not go have the same experience, and she began having the dinner out of the family's home.
"When momma (died), I came home (to Cabarrus County), and people wanted me to continue it," Murphey said. "It was like a family gathering of about 15 to 20 people."
Murphey took on the dinner in 1968 and had it in his home for about 20 years before it was too large and needed to move to other locations, such as Northwest Cabarrus Middle School. He also started a Christmas Eve toy drive around that time, which has been out of his home since.
This past Christmas was most likely Murphey's last year running the dinner and toy drive because of his declining health. At this point in the year, he is not sure how he will feel about not running the events during the holidays.
One thing is for sure, he has been pleasantly surprised with how others are helping him now.
"They shocked me," Murphey said. "This is the first time someone has given me a gift like this."
To donate to the fund, send checks payable to The Jimmy Murphey Home Project Fund, to Toyota of Concord, P.O. Box 365, Concord, NC 28026, or to Cabarrus County Building Industry Association, P.O. Box 244, Concord, NC 28026-0244. Donations may also be made at F&M Banks of Concord or online at www.jimmymurpheyhomeproject.org
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