Around 200 people attended The Taste of Haverhill fundraiser for L'Arche Irenicon at the Roma Function Hall on Wednesday, May 13.
Haverhill businesses — Keon's 105 Bistro, Evenfall, The Roma, The Tap Brew Pub, Starbucks, Haverhill Beef, Foodish Thoughts Catering, Edible Arrangements, The Wicked Big Cafe and Maria's Family Restaurant — provided samples of their offerings.
A jazz quartet provided the soundtrack for a lively raffle, and silent and live auctions.
L' Arche Irenicon is a Roman Catholic-based network of community residences in Haverhill where people with physical and developmental disabilities live with staff. They are part of a worldwide federation of L'Arche communities. The Haverhill/Bradford community celebrated its 25th anniversary and is one of only 16 communities in the United States. The residences are located in diverse neighborhoods throughout the city.
The Taste of Haverhill was the first communitywide fundraising event sponsored by L'Arche Irenicon and organizers hope to organize others like it.
"We are thrilled with the support of the Haverhill community, both the local residents and the businesses," said Swanna Champlin, executive director of L'Arche. "We are hoping to make this our annual communitywide fundraiser."
