LYNN — The Hurley family has dedicated the past five years to helping those struggling with addiction through their nonprofit Black Balloon Corporation.
On March 6, 2016, one year after losing their son-in-law to an overdose, the Hurley family posted on Facebook, inviting people to join them in displaying a black balloon in front of their home or business if they had lost someone to addiction.
Around 42,000 people participated in this all over the world, something Diane Hurley said she never expected.
“It just was unbelievable because so many people are affected by this,” Hurley said. “I didn’t think it would be that big and that fast… It shows that addiction has affected everyone, and everyone knows someone, whether it’s family or not.”
The Hurley family then lost their son to addiction in January of 2019, so Black Balloon Day — which is celebrated every year on March 6 — is a significant event in their, and many others’, lives.
The Hurley’s were able to turn Black Balloon Day into a nonprofit in 2019, which Hurley said offers a space and resource for mothers, fathers and family members who have lost someone to addiction to express their grief.
The nonprofit hosted a fundraiser at Gannon Municipal Golf Course on Wednesday and will use the funds raised to support those going through recovery.
Black Balloon Corporation works with staff at sober homes to find people who are serious and dedicated to becoming sober, and then pays for their first month rent at the home.
Hurley said that during the recovery process, some people don’t have their own funds or have burned bridges with family, so they can’t pay for resources they need.
The first person the nonprofit assisted with rent, about two years ago, is now a manager at a sober house.
“It makes me feel great, being able to help others who’ve gone through this,” Hurley said.
While the nonprofit’s Facebook page offers a space for people to grieve together, people also post available detox sites, places for people to go to attend meetings, and links to available Zoom meetings since COVID-19 hit.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurley said people have been struggling with addiction and recovery, as many in-person support options were limited or completely transitioned to virtual, so having access to resources is very important.
There is one woman on the Facebook page who will post photos of people who have died from an overdose on their birthdays, which Hurley said is tough to see because there are so many young faces and some days include up to six different people posted.
Hurley said the golf tournament was a great turnout, bringing in friends and families who had also lost children to an overdose, sharing in the experience and grief of the reason Black Balloon Day was started in the first place.
Donations to support the nonprofit can be made through Venmo at Black Balloon and more information about Black Balloon Day can be found on the Facebook page at Black Balloon Day Official Page.
