Cleaning out the garage? Donate sports equipment here

According to a report from the Rapid Transition Alliance, the global sports sector contributes the same level of emissions as a medium-sized country. One part of that is sport-related waste. Instead of throwing your old sports gear in the trash, donate it to one of these organizations in St. Louis. By promoting sustainable practices, you’ll positively impact the lives of local youth and families by giving them access to sports equipment like bikes, apparel, safety equipment, balls and other athletic gear.

St. Louis BWorks

For many, riding a bike is an integral part of childhood. St. Louis BWorks makes this dream a reality for local children through its Earn-a-Bike class. Kids learn about bike safety and maintenance, and at the end of the class, they get to take home their own bike. Bike donations help this program thrive – if your child has outgrown their old bike or you have bike equipment collecting dust in the garage, you can donate it to BWorks’ Soulard location, The Alpine Shop, Billy Goat Bicycle Company or The Hub Bicycle Company. BWorks accepts bikes in any condition, and donations are tax-deductible. Be sure to fill out the donation form on BWorks’ website before dropping off your bike.

BWorks, 2414 Menard St., St. Louis, bworks.org

Passback

Passback provides free, high-quality gear to families and youth in underserved communities. One of Passback’s core missions is to extend the life of sports gear as long as possible by upcycling and repurposing donations. This solution creates a sustainable circular economy for sports equipment, resulting in less waste and more play. Passback accepts gear in any condition, including balls, gloves, cleats, helmets, matching uniforms, sports brand clothing, water bottles and fan gear. You can find a full list of accepted items on Passback’s website. As a bonus, if a donated item is at the end of its life, Passback will responsibly recycle it for you.

Passback, 4818 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, 314-795-8321, passback-official.org

Photo by Getty Images

STL Youth Sports Outreach

There’s no question about it: Sports equipment is expensive. To make sports more accessible for all St. Louis children, STL Youth Sports Outreach provides lightly used sports equipment to children who need it most, promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. When a child needs a larger size of their sports gear, they can use the trade-in program to turn in their old equipment to get the size they need. STL Youth Sports Outreach accepts donations via a dropbox at the rear of its building in Overland.

9424 Everman Ave., Overland, sites.google.com/view/stlyso

First Tee

At First Tee, it’s all about empowering kids and teens through the game of golf. First Tee is a youth development organization that integrates essential life skills with golf lessons. First Tee of Greater St. Louis offers programs at local golf courses, elementary schools and youth centers. Your used golf gear can make all the difference for this program. Through the 2nd Swing Club Donation program, your old golf clubs and equipment are converted into a cash donation to fund the program. It accepts golf clubs, balls, apparel, range finders and more. You can find more information on how to donate on First Tee’s website.

5163 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, 314-533-6400, firstteestlouis.org

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