Saturday's collection of sports equipment benefits several places in Bridgeport

Written by Susan Wolf
Thursday, 01 October 2009 23:00

Jackie Kansao is turning a health project into a project that will benefit lots of children in Bridgeport by giving them sports equipment for an after-school program and lacrosse equipment to start a youth program there.

Her collection, which she has dubbed “Have A Ball,” of new and gently used sports equipment is set for this Saturday, Oct. 2, from 10 to 3 at the circular (bus) entrance to Redding Elementary School. All kinds of sports equipment is welcome, especially any kind of lacrosse equipment. Items may be anything from gloves to balls to cleats to tennis racquets.

Jackie, a Joel Barlow High School senior, said the seed for her idea was planted several years ago as her two older brothers went off to college. While helping to bring their belongings through the garage to load into the car, Jackie noticed a lot of unused sports equipment. She figured there were other families with an accumulation of sports equipment as well.

“I remembered how my family went to sports events and the interaction with friends on a sports team. I realized not everyone has sports equipment, or the memories that can come with it,” she said, “so I wanted to collect it and give it to people who need it.”

When it came time to pick a health advocacy project for her class at school, Jackie said everything fell into place for her. “Before, I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how to get there.”

The class has provided her with guidelines to complete her project, she said. Jackie added that her friends will be helping her with the collection.

Jackie plans to take some of the items she collects to the McGivney Center, a community center in Bridgeport. The center offers after-school programs, among other things.

“I knew Bridgeport was in need of something. It’s a first step to making kids have more great memories [like she did],” Jackie said.

She knew about he McGivney Center because her brothers tutored there when attending nearby Fairfield Country Day School.

Besides the McGivney Center, sports equipment will be going to one or more middle school in Bridgeport and for a youth lacrosse team that would be sponsored by the McGivney Center.

“I hope to collect enough equipment to get them started on a team,” Jackie said. “It would be offered as an after-school program.”

Jackie hopes to host another sports equipment collection in the spring and eventually to include surrounding towns.