Christies honor Market Street Mission director

MORRISTOWN - Gov. Chris Christie took a detour from the presidential campaign trail Wednesday to join his wife in honoring David Scott, executive director of the Market Street Mission, and to revisit a subject on his passion list — treating addiction.

"We know, and we talk about this all the time — that addiction is a disease," the governor told the large crowd of media, staff and many of the approximately 70 current residents in the chapel of the mission, located just off the Green on Bank Street. "It is not a moral failing. And those affected need to know that it's not only OK to ask for help, but you need to ask for help."

Christie's appearance was a last-minute addition to Mary Pat Christie's scheduled presentation to Scott, who was named as her eighth 2015 New Jersey Hero for his service to the Market Street Mission, which since 1889 has provided shelter and other aid to addicts, the homeless and others challenged by poverty.

New Jersey Heroes is an initiative launched by the first lady in 2010 to showcase the positive and unique ways people and organizations impact New Jersey communities.

"We're here to celebrate the success stories that happen every day at the Market Street Mission," Mary Pat Christie told the  assembly, which included Scott's family in the first row. "Dave Scott, who has been running this place for 26 years, which is just remarkable, is going to be our 39th hero of the last six years."

The honor included a pin, a gift basket and more importantly, a check for $7,500 for Scott to use at his discretion for the mission.

"The one part that I don't like about these events is being in front of the microphone," Scott told the Christies. "As I think about Market Street, it fits well with your concept of helping rather than incarcerating addicts. We see wonderful results in the people's lives who come through Market Street. In the 26 years I've been here, there's probably been 1,200-plus who have come through the program."

"(Scott) has the ability not only to heal, but to persuade others to join their work of healing as well," the governor said. "I'm confident that is a gift that not only comes from his experience here over the last 26 years, but that is a gift that also clearly comes from God as well."

"He'd never say that stuff about himself, but that's the danger of putting me in the room and having people say that stuff in front of me, because then I get to repeat it in front of the cameras and embarrass you," Christie added with a smile. "But he got 7,500 bucks for his troubles, so that's not the worst thing in the world."

The Christies did not take questions from the large group of media attending the presentation, focusing instead on the staff and residents at the mission. They began their visit with a private meeting with the staff, who spoke of their motivations for working there.

After the presentations, the Christies donned white hats and gloves to help serve a lunch of turkey, potatoes, green beans and salad to the residents.

"Dave Scott is a great guy. Saved my life," said Evan Schambach, a native of Monmouth County who is staying at the mission. "God only knows how many lives he's influenced and saved."

Other residents offered warm opinions of the governor and his highly publicized remarks last month about addiction, using his late mother's nicotine addiction as one example, and calling for treating rather than jailing nonviolent drug offenders.

"I think he still has a lot of work to do on the drug program," said a resident who identified himself only as Pete. "But he said treat it like a disease, which is the right way to go. You don't see anybody with diabetes getting locked up for being sick."

​Earlier this year, the New Jersey Heroes program also awarded $120,000 in grants to 18 organizations. Grantees from Morris County included the Community Soup Kitchen & Outreach Center in Morristown ($7,500), the Interfaith Food Pantry in Parsippany ($1,508) and Roots & Wings in Denville ($5,000) for providing young adults who age out of New Jersey's foster care system with safe housing, education, counseling, and life skills to empower them toward self-sufficiency.

Program honorees in 2014 included Interfaith Food Pantry Director Rosemary Gilmartin, for 20 years of feeding the hungry in Morris County.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.