Youth sports equipment is being collected at various West Hartford locations beginning March 31, 2025, and a pick-up ‘free shopping’ event is planned for April 6.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford residents, along with area businesses and organizations, are set to host the town’s first ever “Gear Up for Youth Sports” event this spring.

The initiative has two parts – donation of usable sports equipment, and an event where families can select the equipment they need and learn about the various sports activities available to children in West Hartford.

“I grew up playing a lot of sports, and my kids play a lot of sports,” said event organizer and West Hartford resident Kerry Adamowicz, who said her garage contains plenty of sports-related items that her children are not using but have plenty of life left in them. She was motivated to launch Gear Up for Youth Sports by the knowledge that there are kids in town who don’t have the same access to what they need, and is hopeful that this event will help families get their kids involved with sports.

“It’s an opportunity to clean out your garage,” Adamowicz said. Equipment doesn’t have to be new to be repurposed, but it does have to be in working condition. Helmets, clothing, uniforms, or broken/damaged items cannot be accepted.

Donations can be dropped off during business hours at The Bridge Family Center’s Counseling Center at 100 Shield Street, West Hartford Town Hall Lobby (5o South Main Street), or the Elmwood Community Center (1106 New Britain Avenue) between March 31 and April 4.

Donations can also be dropped off at the “free shopping” event, which will be held on Sunday, April 6, from noon to 3 p.m., at West Hartford Town Hall. The event is open to all kids and families, and representatives from a variety of youth sports leagues will also be on hand to provide information about their sports and available opportunities to participate.

“We’ve been trying to work with different organizations to find out how to get the equipment, and cleats, and even the little things that you may not even think of,” Adamowicz said.

Adamowicz said that Liz Buczynski, assistant director of Social Services for the the Town of West Hartford, has been a great partner and helped connect her with the Bridge’s Teen Leadership Committee, which is also an organizer of the event. Local businesses, including Fleet Feet Sports, Play It Again Sports, and organizations such as Special Olympics, are also supporting the event.

Gear Up for Youth Sports is not a swap, Adamowicz said, because there is no need to donate in order to receive gear.

Adamowicz said she is so grateful for the “group effort this has been with the Bridge, the town, and lots of local friends and families getting this to become a reality.”

Any questions can be directed to [email protected].

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