11-03-2025
'Play it Forward' helps kids thrive on and off the field
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The 4th annual 'Play it Forward' event is helping kids thrive on and off the field. United Way is collecting sports equipment donations for kids in need.
'Our mission is to foster and unite resources to those in need. So to help us accomplish this, we're finding the people in need, and we are giving them sports equipment,' United Way Director of Development Brileigh Daniels said.
They are in need of gloves, cleats, bats, helmets, balls, and shoes.
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'We're really in need of donations for this event. So that's balls, cleats, gloves, any equipment. We wouldn't turn it away,' Daniels said.
Donations help kids play sports without a cost barrier.
'Kids have a tendency to outgrow cleats pretty quick. Tennis shoes. Anything that's been lightly used. Maybe somebody, you know, started a sport. They didn't really care for the switch to a different sport. Anything like that can really help somebody getting started,' Bay County Parks & Recreation Assistant Division Manager Tim Prentice said.
The donated items will be handed out at the annual 'Play it Forward' event, May 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harders Park. Kids can pick up free sports gear and receive free sports physicals.
'It'll be a way of dispersing and all of the collected donations to the community. So it's a free event, and it will have free food, games, and activities,' Prentice said.
Get ready for the first ever Glenwood day
You can spot donation drop boxes at sports complexes around Bay County.
They are located at the Lynn Haven Sports Complex, Cain Griffin Park, Callaway Sports Complex, Daffin Park, Panama, City Sports Park, Oakland Terrace, Bay County Parks & Rec, Gulf Coast Air Conditioning, All Innovations FCU locations, Corams on 231, United Way of NWFL, Coastal Waste & Recycling, Cat 5 Sports Facility, Legendary Marine, Harley Davidson, Chick Fil A PCB, and Diego's Lynn Haven.
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