Program gets kids geared up to play
<p>Sagle resident Carrie Bomar has started a grassroots cause that will help local youth in need get the athletic gear they need to play. (Courtesy photo)</p>
SANDPOINT — Last year it was seeing a local 11 year-old boy who was very athletic but could not afford the necessary gear to play organized sports.
This year is was hearing a mother of five say she’d love to see her kids play sports, but it was simply too much of a financial burden.
So Sagle resident Carrie Bomar, who has two boys who play sports, decided it was time to try and help, and the idea of the Bonner County Sports Closet was born.
The new nonprofit program is about as grassroots as it gets, with Bomar collecting any and all used sporting gear in a back room of her Westmond Etc. Salon.
The hope is that people will donate outgrown gear, apparel, equipment and basically anything sports related. From there, Bomar hopes families that need it can have a place to get free sports gear and enable more kids to play.
“With our economy, and me with two boys, I thought if I could find a way to help more kids play sports . . .” said Bomar, who hopes the venture can grow. “This was something simple that I could do.”
Bomar is hoping families with kids who have outgrown their gear can donate it to the sports closet, to be passed on to the next athlete. From cleats, to shin guards, to football and baseball pants, to pads, shoes, clothes, golf clubs, bats, mitts and balls, Bomar hopes to compile enough gear to meet the local need.
She’ll have a booth set up at SHS on Saturday, March 24 during the little league baseball and softball tryouts, where people can drop off any used sporting goods. With baseball and softball starting soon, Bomar has already received a couple of calls inquiring about gear.
“It’s a huge burden on parents,” she said. “The more we can get the kids playing sports, it’s best for Bonner County.”
She will come to the home and pick up gear, and is also looking for any tubs with lids, racks for clothes and any kind of shelving to help store the gear in her shop.
“It literally is a closet,” said Bomar, who has already collected several big bags of gear. “Everybody has been very supportive. Right now I want to make it work here, that’s my goal.”
For more information, visit “www.bcsportscloset.com.”
To inquire about donating gear, or about acquiring gear, call Bomar at (208) 771-1715.
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Have some used sports gear?
The Bonner County Sports Closet will be collecting any and all sporting goods donations during the Sandpoint Little League tryouts on Saturday, March 24 at Sandpoint High School. There are also drop off spots at the Westmond Etc. Salon (corner of Hwy 95 and Westmond Rd) or The Basement Games and CD’s (Hwy 200 near the Bonner Mall in Ponderay).