Federal Money Headed to North Adams for Opioid Fight (VIDEO)

A lot of people turned out for Saturday's Voices for Recovery rally, walk to City Hall, and vigil at Colgrove Park in North Adams. There were those who had lost loved ones to addiction, those who are undergoing the daily challenges of recovery and those who very much want to see increased efforts in the community to turn the tide against addiction and the stigma that is very often associated with it.

There were speakers like State Rep. John Barrett, State Sen. Adam Hinds, Mayor Tom Bernard, and others. Jennifer Kimball serves as the coordinator of the Berkshire Opioid Addiction Prevention Collaborative, and she was there to share some exciting news from the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission for those dealing with recovery in Northern Berkshire.

The nearly $70,000 in grant money coming to North Adams will mean a big boost to the development of the Beacon Recovery Community Center, a peer-based program to be located at The Green at 85 Main St. The center plans to be open each Wednesday from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. An opening date has yet to be determined, but volunteers who also spoke at Saturday's event said they are looking forward to starting up in the near future.