Sudbury Hero: Tween Collects Lacrosse Equipment For Less Forunate

SUDBURY, MA—Evan Rich said he's been playing lacrosse since the first grade. He enjoys it so much that he thinks everyone should have the opportunity to do so.

”I love lacrosse and have had so many fun experiences with friends playing," said Rich, a Sudbury native who is 12 and a seventh-grader at Curtis Middle School. "I want other kids to have the same opportunities I have had to play.”

On March 16, 2019, Rich celebrates his Bar Mitzvah, which is the ceremony through which he'll be deemed a young Jewish adult. As part if this milestone, he's decided to take on a project to help other kids less fortunate than he.

For the project, Rich is collecting new and used lacrosse gear, which in turn is donating to an organization called Harlem Lacrosse-Boston, which helps students from Dorchester and Mattapan, many of whom Rich said are at risk of dropping out of school.

"Harlem Lacrosse-Boston gives kids the opportunity to have a positive experience by learning how to play lacrosse," said Rich. "Lacrosse helps keep my mind off other things and pushes me to get better at something. It’s also social because I get to hang out and have lots of fun with friends."

His goal is to collect enough lacrosse equipment to make a "real difference and have a positive impact on as many kids as possible."

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Items that can be donated are gear bags, elbow pads, athletic clothes, well-string sticks with soft mesh and girls' lacrosse goggles. Gear for those in grades 5-8 is especially needed. The organization does not want sticks that are broken, used cleats or any equipment that is particularly worn out. Money, too, can be donated.

A Harlem Lacrosse Boston Gear Drive bin will be located at the Fieldhouse in Sudbury from Nov. 1 through Dec. 14.

Know someone making a difference in your town? Email us a little about them and how they're making a difference and we may profile them. Send to Charlene.Arsenault@Patch.com.

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