Shamrockin in Ghent

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The annual Greening of Ghent has a new name this year: Shamrockin in Ghent. The St. Patrick's Day celebration is also supporting a new cause, the Hope House Foundation.

With the rain pouring down, there were more umbrellas than top hats, more rain boots than shiny, black shoes and no leprechauns.

Torie Henry is wearing a kilt, but he says that's not all he's got on.

"Not in america," said Henry. But good Irish spirit can't be washed away.

"Rain is nothing to these guys so I say Hampton Roads get out the umbrellas," said Lynne Seagle, executive director of Hope House Foundation.

But long before locals turned Ghent green, Hope House Foundation has been helping people turn their lives around.

"We support adults with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes," said Seagle. One of those adults was Joe Lightfoot.

"They helped me a lot, they gave me an apartment and I got a nice job and I just go out whenever I want," said Lightfoot. He says he enjoys his freedom, something he says was limited living in a group home.

He appreciates the things the rest of us sometimes take for granted.

"That's my kitchen there, Joes' crab shop," said Lightfoot. Friday night, the money raised on Colley Avenue will support the many Joes' crab shops of Hampton Roads.

"That's great we donate a lot of stuff to them and we always go to the Stockley Gardens art show," said Stephanie Moore.

A new name, a new cause and the same great fun, even if there was more gray than green this year.