Sports Equipment Donation Drive To Be Hosted By Cranford Police

CRANFORD, NJ — Starting in October, Cranford Police will collect sports equipment for "Leveling the Playing Field" — a nonprofit that provides access to athletic equipment to under-resourced communities.

The donation drive will begin Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Cranford Community Center at 220 Walnut Ave. from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., according to Cranford Police.

Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) found that one in five underserved households are not getting their kids involved in athletics because of the rising price of sporting equipment.

Due to this lack of access to sports equipment, the nonprofit aims to collect and redistribute equipment to expand access and equity within youth sports and recreation programs in under-resourced communities.

LPF expanded to a third warehouse location in Philadelphia during the fall of 2021 to ensure that all kids in the Greater Philadelphia area can get off the sidelines.

Those interested in donating must drive to the rear of the Cranford Community Center, and volunteers will unload your car or you can park and drop off donations in the lobby.

Here are the pieces of equipment Cranford Police will be collecting:

FOOTBALL

Flag football belts
Footballs
Football cleats
Football
gloves
Football pads
Football helmets (5 yrs ornewer)
Kicking tees

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

Aluminum/Wood Bats
Bags
Bases (rubber & soft)
Baseballs
Catchers Gear
Cleats
Gloves (batting & fielding)
Helmets (5 yrs or newer)
Pants
Pitching/Batting Nets
Pitching Machines
Softballs
Soft Balls
T-Ball Sets
Umpire Gear
Whiffle Balls
Whiffle Bats

BASKETBALL

Basketballs
Basketball shoes
Basketball hoops/goals
Mini basketballs
Basketball Shorts

GOLF

Golf bags
Golf balls
Golf clubs

FIELD HOCKEY

Balls
Goggles & gloves
Goalie Gear
Sticks

HOCKEY

Bags
Gloves
Goalie Equipment
Helmets
Hockey Pucks
Pads
Shorts/Pants
Skates
Socks
Sticks (any type/size)

LACROSSE

Balls
Fiddle Sticks (plastic)
Goals
Goggles
Gloves
Helmets
Pads
Sticks (any type/size)

RACQUET SPORTS

Ball Hoppers
Nets
Tennis Balls
Tennis Racquet Covers
Tennis Racquets
Badminton Sets
Pickleball Sets
Squash Sets

PLAYGROUND/FITNESS

Agility Equipment
Ball Pumps
Boxing/Karate Pads
Cones
Corn Hole
First Aid Kits
Free Weights
Frisbees
Gymnastics Equipment
Hula Hoops
Jump Ropes
Ladder Golf
Kickballs
Mouth-guards (still inpackage)
Pinnies
Playground Balls
Resistance Bands
Roller Skates/Blades (5 yearsold or less)
Swim Equipment
Weighted Plates
Whistles
Yoga/Fitness Mats

VOLLEYBALL

Knee Pads
Nets
Volleyballs

SOCCER

Soccer Balls
Cleats
Goalie Gloves
Goals
Shin Guards
Socks
Shorts

Police are unable to accept the following:

Bikes
Bicycle Helmets
Bicycle/SkateboardElbow/Knee Pads
Clothing
Croquet Sets
Exercise Machines
Fishing Gear
Uncertified Football Helmets
Hats
Partial sets of uniforms
Protective Cups/Jock Straps
Racquetball Equipment
Scooters
Skis & Snowboards
Trophies
Used Running Shoes

LPF accepts new and gently used sporting equipment donations to directly redistribute to kids in need.

Have a question about the condition of your gear? Contact LPF directly at info@levelingtheplayingfield.org.

Have a news tip? Email remy.samuels@patch.com.