Blogs \ Blog #13

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Pass the Torch: Youth Sports Equipment Rally Recap

Published On: May 17, 2024
If you missed the event, here’s a recap of the energy and excitement that took place on April 27 at Get Lively® Health & Fitness in Watertown, MA. 

Jan Taylor and Michelle Tempesta set out to create a fun event that would both serve the Watertown community and help launch Turf, this new marketplace that makes it easy for parents to find and register their kiddos for recreational programs, camps, classes and more. We settled on a used sports equipment swap that would help community members clear out their storage areas AND bring gently used equipment to families looking for equipment. 
 
So many exciting things happened at the event. From the volunteers to donors, and the smiles on the faces of the kiddos who came to shop! We estimated that more than 100 pairs of cleats, 25 baseball gloves, a dozen bats, 35 pairs of skates, three lacrosse sticks, and four pairs of skis changed hands at the Rally. That adds up to hundreds of smiles!

Boston Gold Kings
There were a pile of ice skates on the table at the beginning of the day and by the end, there were only a handful left. Watching the Boston Gold Kings at work helping kids of all ages find the right pair of skates was so much fun!  And, beyond the skate fitting, the team helped receive all the equipment. They quickly sorted it by type of sport to make it easier for people to shop. The Boston Gold Kings volunteers were incredibly helpful all around and are an excellent addition to the Watertown community! Let’s support the team next season by attending their games. Check them out here: https://www.facebook.com/BostonGoldKings/

Generous Community Members
People from all over town began donating cleats, pads, gloves, bats, skates, skis, balls, lacrosse sticks, martial arts uniforms, and so much more for the event. Our tables were full and we were ready to help people find what they were looking for. One person even saw our volunteer sign holders at Filippello Park and donated all the cash they had on them, which was two dollars and forty-two cents. More about that later! 

Families who found what they wanted and more.
The first kiddo through the door said to Jan, “I’d like a scooter and a soccer ball” and Jan proudly said, “We have both, just for you!” The little girl smiled from ear-to-ear when she was able to pick out the soccer ball she wanted and zoom home on her new scooter. I don’t know who was smiling brighter, that little girl, Jan or me – what an incredibly a fulfilling moment. 

Several families tried on cleats, took time picking a new baseball mitt, or contemplating taking up a new sport, like skiing. One dad found several pieces of sports equipment to bring home said, “You just made our entire summer, thank you!” You are so welcome!

Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Card Drawing
At the event, so many people entered to win the drawing. Picked randomly, Lusine, mother of two young kiddos, was the winner. She told me that her kids were so excited about the equipment they brought home from the swap and that they had been playing with it in their yard everyday since. Enjoy the gift card and the equipment kiddos!

Volunteers
Special thanks to all of the volunteers from the Boston Gold Kings, Watertown Middle School, and the community at large, plus Michelle and Jan’s families. We appreciate your commitment to the event and your part in making it a huge success!

What happened to the items that were left at the end of the day?
We sold what we could to Dan Pill at Play it Again Sports in Waltham. He handed over $90 for some cleats, baseballs, and golf clubs. As for the rest of the items, we donated them to Goodwill. We’re confident that all of the items will find great homes! 

Turf is taking the $90 from Play it Again and the $2.42 from the cash donor at Filippello and will offer it to someone in the community who needs it to offset the cost of a camp, art class, recreation program, or a sports league this year. Stay tuned for more information on that. 

Jan and I are planning to host the event again next year. Sign up for Turf today to stay in the know about all things recreation in Watertown and the surrounding towns. 

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