Non-profit collecting sports gear to help young athletes

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LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A local non-profit is collecting sporting equipment to help young athletes grow without shrinking their bank accounts.

28/22 News Reporter Emily Allegrucci spoke with the organization about the drive and checked out how expensive equipment can really be.

Athletes Caring Together has five donation boxes set up around Lackawanna County to collect equipment that can often be pricey. This will give all children the chance at sports.

It’s a free opportunity that even local sporting goods stores can get behind.

A sporting goods drive made for Lackawanna County kids to hit a line drive.

“It’s a win-win situation. Cleanup your garages, make somebody else happy!” said Athletes Caring Together Co-founder Dima Raynova.

Local non-profit, Athletes Caring Together, has put together a sporting equipment drive, collecting new or gently used items for young athletes in the area.

The group understands that not only is it often expensive to participate in sports, but the required equipment doesn’t come cheap.

“To help children in schools and other organizations to use it and reuse it. It’s environmentally friendly and also it’s so expensive, kids grow out of it so quickly,” Raynova explained.

The drive also gives children who can’t afford to try a new sport the opportunity to step up to the plate.

Bats like this one can range anywhere from 50 dollars to nearly 500 dollars in stores. This donation gives every kid a chance to take a swing at the ball.

Battaglia’s Sporting Goods in Scranton has been a staple for decades, and owner Paul Ezbiansky says he has seen a spike in sporting goods prices.

“Kids come in, their parents came in 20 years ago as kids, their grandparents came in 40 years ago as kids. In the last few years, prices have gone up quite a bit. Just like everywhere else I guess,” Ezbiansky said.

Although the store can’t give away equipment for free, they do their best to give their community the most affordable prices.

“People come in and we try to give them the best deal we could and sometimes we have deals where they could save some money on baseball equipment or gloves, bats, shoes,” Ezbiansky added.

Once that athlete has outgrown their equipment, it can be dropped in the box to be reused by another.

“It’s a good idea. A good idea to give people who can’t afford any part of life a little extra, you know?” Ezbiansky continued.

If you do have new or gently used equipment that you would like to donate to local children, head online for the five different drop box locations in Lackawanna County.

They will be accepting donations until a free youth games event on May 19 where they will distribute them to people and groups in need.