Beedie students collect sports equipment for low-income families

What started as a school assignment has turned into a sporting drive to help families in need. Five SFU Beedie School of Business students in a project management class came up with the idea to hold a sporting drive. The students are Adam Fong, Charles Lui, Emily Shen, Jethro Rocillo and Louis Lam.

“So many people are supportive of this,” said organizer Emily Shen.

They are calling the initiative Project Gearing Up.

On Saturday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., people can drop off used sports equipment at the Bill Copeland Sport Centre at 3676 Kensington Ave. The donations go to families that can’t afford sports equipment for their kids.

The group has also teamed up with Burnaby’s parks and recreation department and Burnaby MoreSports, an organization dedicated to getting more kids active in sports.

The SFU students are looking for donations of basketballs, soccer balls, racquets, hockey and lacrosse sticks, soccer cleats and some sports wear, such as football and hockey pads. They are making the event a family-friendly affair by offering face-painting.

Their goal is to encourage kids to become more active and go outdoors more. Donations to their initiative will be made to More Sports, a local organization that currently provides sustainable sport and physical activity opportunities for children and families living in Burnaby and Vancouver. They have a special focus on people who typically do not participate in sports such as those who face barriers to participate in sports such as cost.

For more information, please contact the team at projectgearingup@gmail.com

To read the complete Burnaby Now online article, click here.