Parents on the hunt for sports equipment for their burgeoning athletes won't have to go far to find some deals.
KidSport New Westminster is holding its first-annual used sports equipment sale on Sunday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Glenbrook Middle School.
The event will help KidSport New Westminster raise money so it can financially support children who may not otherwise be able to play organized sports.
Sandon Fraser, co-chair of KidSports NewWest, said donations of used sports equipment are greatly appreciated.
"We want to make sure when people show up, there is some good-quality equipment to choose from," he said.
"This is a great place to donate that stuff to a good cause. All the equipment goes toward supporting youth in the city," he added.
New Westminster residents wanting to donate equipment for the sale can drop off items at the New Westminster Secondary School parking lot at 835 Eighth St. on the following days: Wednesday, Aug. " 1 (6 to 8 p.m.); Wednesday, Aug. 8 (6 to 8 p.m.); Saturday, Aug. 11 (10 a.m. to noon); and Thursday, Aug. 16 (6 to 8 p.m.)
"We will take any sports equipment that we can get, ideally stuff that is in reasonably good condition," Fraser said. "We want to make sure it is useable and safe to wear."
The used equipment sale is expected to feature gear from a range of sports, including soccer, skiing, baseball, hockey and lacrosse.
"The hope is we want to get as many sports and as much variety as possible," Fraser said. "The great thing is it is very affordable."
Chris Wilson - a former Olympic wrestler who finished eighth at the Barcelona Olympics - got the ball running for a New West chapter of KidSport.
Wilson was involved with KidSport Tri-Cities, and he helped Royal City residents establish KidSport New Westminster.
Locals have stepped up to the plate, so much so that Wilson is no longer directly involved with the group.
"It's really great to see how it has taken off," he said. "I am ecstatic. It's a great group of people. They are really keen."
Wilson encourages residents to support KidSport NewWest by donating used equipment and attending the sale.
In the Tri-Cities sales, he's seen parents outfit a child for hockey (including skates and a helmet) for $100 - noting that the same equipment would cost $600 or more in a store.
"It's all really good-quality stuff," Wilson said. "You can save a ton of money."
KidSport was started in 1993 and has helped more than 110,000 kids play sports. Since its inception, more than $18 million has been raised for kids.
There are currently 177 volunteer community committees in KidSport's network of 11 provincial and territorial chapters in Canada.
Each provincial and local chapter of KidSport Canada has a confidential application process.
Grant information for each chapter is available by contacting the local KidSport chapter.
Which sports are eligible may differ in each province, according to the KidSport website.
For more information about the New West KidSport chapter, visit kidsportnewwest.ca.
