With many families retiring old sports equipment as their child’s season comes to an end or as they simply outgrow their love for a sport, much of the old equipment gets banished away to the corner of the garage. Varsity club has found a solution to decluttering people’s garages while also allowing for those in need to receive sports equipment.
Betsy Ropke ’24 is chairing the sports equipment drive from April 28 to May 2 and described how this fundraiser is an opportunity for the Varsity Club to give back to those less fortunate. Ropke believes that the club should use their passions to help the community.
“As chair of the equipment drive, I am hoping to raise sports equipment to help children who are less fortunate and could give a football, soccer ball or baseball bat a new life,” Ropke said.
Victoria Lupher, the head of Varsity Club, described how the club has been doing a variety of fundraisers where they collect items to give back to the community during different seasons. With this fundraiser, the club is going to be running the equipment drive through Eagle Sports Club that is based out of Detroit and offers a variety of youth sports.
“We are partnering to donate to Eagle Sports Club,” Lupher said. Varsity Club doesn’t have any big events in the spring like our coat drive in the winter, so we wanted to introduce another way to contribute to the community. An opportunity presented itself, so we took it.”
Many students, including Olivia McMillin ’25, are going to use this as motivation to do their spring cleaning and specifically will be keeping an eye out for old equipment. McMillin thinks this is an eye opening opportunity to rid of these miscellaneous items.
“Between myself and my two siblings, we have a lot of old untouched equipment in our garage and basement,” McMillin said. “I think this drive is a very good idea, and I am going to do a spring clean with my family soon to find stuff to donate.”
Ropke hopes that many like McMillin will also look out for old equipment during their spring cleaning. With many families able to donate, she is looking for South to come together as one to give back to their community.
“I am hoping to see our South families donate their used sports equipment that they don’t use anymore,” Ropke said.
