Sports gear swap helps parents save

[Photo by Micahya Costen] Montana Barner (from left), her sister Carolyn Barner and Tina White volunteered at the Great Spring Sport Equipment Swap last Saturday. White said she plans to hold other swaps in various sports seasons.
[Photo by Micahya Costen] The baseball table set up in the gym.

[Photo by Micahya Costen]The softball and baseball table set up.

Children outgrow things quickly, from clothes to sports equipment.

Tina White knows this, so she created an event called The Great Spring Sport Equipment Swap, which was held at the Oglethorpe County Recreation Department last Saturday.

The swap helped families have access to youth sporting equipment for free.

“One lady’s kids are just now starting T-ball, and she got everything the kid needed,” White said. “It’s all good stuff, so she can take the bag and put some embroidery on it, and it looks brand new. … You’re reusing resources without spending additional money.”

County residents donated items from 1-2 p.m., and the shopping took place from 2-4 p.m.

Everyone wasn’t required to bring an item in order to take one, but it was an option for those who wanted to pass on equipment they didn’t want, White explained.

“So that was the origination of the idea that lots of people have things that their children have outgrown,” White said. “And if you have multiple children and sports, that can get pretty expensive, unnecessarily.”

All of the items were displayed on four tables with baseball, softball and football equipment labeled to sort through. And around 30 families participated.

“We don't plan to change anything, we just plan to do it as frequently as community members will support,” White said. “We’ve had several people reach out about participating next time, and even continuing to swap personally amongst themselves on our post on social media. We really have the best community. The world may not have a front porch, but the Oglethorpe County Recreation Department sure does.”

There was also help from volunteers, such as Montana Barner and her sister Carolyn.

Montana, a high school athlete, guided folks to choose the right equipment. Her outlook was that one person’s junk is another’s treasure.

“Nobody should have to go without playing a sport if they want to play it just because they don't have the items or whatever the situation is,” Barner said.

White hopes this program will continue through each season to help the community and offer a way for youth to experience sports.

“I just thought maybe the community would appreciate being able to just swap sports equipment around instead of having to go out and buy new,” she said. “If your neighbor has the stuff that your kid now needs, and then maybe your other kids have outgrown some stuff.”