GREENFIELD — The annual Firebird 5K race is back on for another year, and this time the proceeds will go toward establishing some much-needed sober housing options in Greenfield.
The footrace is entering its third year. The purpose is to raise awareness about the ongoing opioid abuse crisis and to promote preventive education.
This time, the race will benefit the Sage Housing, a nonprofit out of Quincy specializing in subsidized housing. Much of the roughly $8,000 raised over the last two years has been given to the organization to help secure property somewhere in Greenfield where a sober house can be established, said Devon de Korver, the race’s organizer.
Previously, the race benefited the RECOVER Project of Greenfield, and the remaining money collected for that purpose will be combined with this year’s earnings.
Some of the previous years’ funds have been used to fuel the RECOVER Project’s Rides to Recovery program, which offers gas cards to help people get themselves or someone else to treatment programs or other support services, de Korver said.
The envisioned sober house would be a small “third-quarters” house where recovering substance users can maintain sobriety under some level of supervision, de Korver said.
“In a larger area, substance abuse and drug use can’t be regulated as easily,” she said.
Recovering addicts would be able to apply for housing off the street, she said.
The race itself will be held on June 4 this year at Highland Pond. It starts at 10 a.m.
To register, visit the race’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/firebird5k or go to runreg.com/firebird5k.
You can reach Tom Relihan at:
trelihan@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 264
On Twitter, follow @RecorderTom