SALISBURY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new Facebook group was formed this week in Salisbury, Mass. that helps families and children find sports equipment and gear for free.
Jennifer Roketenetz, an administrator at Salisbury’s Parks, Recreation, and Youth Empowerment, started the program to help families with the cost of sports equipment, which often prevents children from getting the gear they want or joining sports teams.
The Facebook group is called “Pass it Along: Salisbury Sports Gear,” and it connect people who need sports gear with others who have outgrown theirs or have equipment to spare.
“Somebody can post their items. They’re doing their garage clean out or their basement clean out. And then somebody can go through [on Facebook], browse through the items and grab them,” said Roketenetz.
Roketenetz explained the reasons behind starting the group. “Just the thought of a child not being to try something or play a sport because the parent has hardship to pay for that equipment is just… something I feel like we could fix.”
In a Facebook post, Salisbury Parks and Recreation Commission shared the goals behind the new sports gear exchange group. “Gear for sports can be really expensive. Most of us have gear in our spaces that are no longer used, but have some life left…pitchers mitts, skis, bats, cleats, hockey pads, skis, lacrosse gear, surfboards, bicycles, skateboards, snowshoes, snowboards, etc… Salisbury Pass it Along is a platform to give those items some new life and/or be able to acquire needed equipment at no cost. That's a win win for ALL of us.”
Salisbury Elementary School teacher Colleen Poulin has already joined the new group. “How awesome is that, that a kid that may not have the availability to get that equipment now does,” she said.
Poulin is a mother of three, and she said she understands the cost barrier to sports gear. “Think about hockey, when you have kids play hockey and they outgrow that equipment," the costs start to add up.
And, as a bonus, it allows people like Poulin to get rid of old equipment taking up space in their homes, while also helping other families and children in the community. "It’s a good time to get rid of the junk" in their garage, added Poulin.
The Facebook group already has 139 members as of Jan. 26, just four days after it was started on Monday.
WBZ's Kendall Buhl (@WBZKendall) reports.
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