Kids thrive when they're physically active, but the cost of sports gear is a barrier for many New Zealand families.
For the last five years, the charitable organisation REPLAY has been helping out - gathering and redistributing over 21,000 pieces of used sports equipment and clothing to those in need.
Photo: replay.org.nz
Denise McLean (Ngāi Tahu) is the founder of REPLAY and her Palmerston North home was where it all began.
'We had a corner of the garage at home that was starting to pile up with sports gear… some of it barely used. That was the catalyst to really getting started,' she tells Jesse Mulligan.
At the time, Denise was working in schools and had seen people missing out on opportunities through not having access to the gear.
Within a fortnight of launching REPLAY - and just via word of mouth - Denise's family had filled their double garage with used rugby balls, tennis raquets and hockey sticks.
Now, over 21,000 used items have been saved from the landfill and passed on to individuals, schools, early childhood centres and community organisations.
Currently, REPLAY accepts and distributes donated sports gear in the Manawatu, Whanganui and Taranaki regions.
Denise hopes they'll soon partner with businesses so they can expand the service around Aotearoa, including to the South Island. She's also keen to hear from individuals interested in hosting the REPLAY service in their own regions.
REPLAY gratefully accepts:
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Sports balls - especially rugby balls, footballs, netballs, basketballs, tennis balls, hockey & cricket balls.
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Implements - hockey sticks, tennis & squash racquets, table tennis bats, cricket bats, soft/baseball bats, golf clubs.
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Shoes - rugby/football boots, sneakers, cross trainers.
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Clothing - any sport branded clothing (please note we are unable to receive corporate branded clothing).
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Gear - any sports gear supporting keeping kids active and involved in their sport (swimming gear, backpacks & sports bags, shin pads, training bibs, badminton & volleyballs nets)
They are unable to collect:
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Bicycles, skateboards, skates, scooters and helmets.
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Ski & tramping gear.
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Large items (kayaks, basketball hoops, surfboards, exercise steppers etc).
