For the third year, local students are collecting new and gently used sports equipment and clothing for the third annual Sports Drive.
This event is organized by teenagers with the goal of giving sports equipment and clothing to more than 750 kids in-need in the Santa Barbara community, and increasing membership and participation at the Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club.
The Sports Drive is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9-11 a.m., at the Santa Barbara Downtown Boys & Girls Club. Children must have a ticket to attend. The tickets will be distributed by agencies that support children in need, such as the Transition House, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, the Boys & Girls Club.
More information is available at the web site www.sbsportsdrive.com, or www.facebook.com/sbsportsdrive.
The official collection of sports equipment and clothing began Dec. 1.
The team behind Sports Drive is comprised of 16 students who started the program with a pair of shoes, an idea and a drive to help others. The group of young philanthropists held their first Sports Drive on April 10, 2010 at the Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club after having previously collected sports equipment and clothing. Truckloads and endless boxes filled the gym at the Boys & Girls Club.
Last year, Sports Drive gave out more than 4,000 items to over 700 kids in the community. The goal this year is to reach out to new families and businesses to help boost donations so they can increase the number of kids they support.
“Our mission is to get kids off the street and into sports, support the Boys & Girls Club, and recycle sports equipment. The concept is simple but we need a team to make this event happen,” said founding member Matt Wagonhurst, a member of the Santa Barbara High basketball team.
Steve Yapp, Tri-Counties PODS owner, will be supporting the Sports Drive again this year by donating several PODS storage units to the cause.
PODS will be stationed at: Crane Country Day School, Boys & Girls Club downtown and Laguna Blanca School in Hope Ranch to accept donations through Feb. 20.
The computer support professionals at Make it Work is sponsoring the Sports Drive by providing funding for the event and tech support for students designing the web site.
Also participating in the event is Kim Kjar, Athletic Director of the Santa Barbara Boys & Girls Club.
Donations are being accepted now. You can call the hotline at 805-729-0353 or take your items to one of the three drop-off locations.
this is such an amzxing initiative. Well done. It really teaches kids to share, as well as giving less fortunate children an opportunity to experience sports and all its benefits.
Well done