Your family gets a deal, another family gets a deal.
That's the simple math of the used sporting goods sale hosted by KidSport Tri-Cities.
On March 28, the local non-profit holds the latest edition of its bi-annual sale at Port Coquitlam's Riverside secondary school.
And while shoppers will benefit - donated goods such as hockey equipment, fitness machines, golf clubs, wetsuits and bikes will be priced to sell - so will the people KidSport aims to help as the proceeds will go to provide financial assistance for registration fees and equipment to children 18 and under whose families couldn't otherwise afford to put them in organized sports.
The sale is open to the public and 1,400 people attended last year. Half the equipment available was sold and KidSport's executive director said he hopes this year will have even bigger numbers.
"Every penny that we raise goes toward the kids," said Chris Wilson, noting last year, $130,000 went to helping 600 children of lower income families register for sports.
"It has made a huge difference for my kids," said Tara-Kelly Andrews of Coquitlam, a single parent who has a six-year-old autistic daughter and a five-year-old son who is hearing impaired. With KidSport's help, she saves $130 a year on registration.
"To be able to play Challenger baseball, it has given them the opportunity to be around other kids that have similar issues that get it, that understand and there's no competitiveness so everyone gets to have fun."
And at the sale, everyone gets to shop for bargains.
"If you had to outfit a child for hockey, [at the sale] it would cost about $100 with skates stick and helmet," said Wilson, who is also a Coquitlam city councillor. "When you compare that to buying new, it would cost $600 to $700, so the money you can save is quite substantial."
And if you're not in the market for new gear, you may be able to help KidSport help kids by donating your old sporting equipment. Donations of sporting goods can be made at the Port Coquitlam recreation complex, Port Moody rec complex, Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, Riverside secondary, and Thrift-Opolis and Jim Pattison Hyundai in Port Coquitlam.
The March 28 sale runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Riverside school, 2215 Reeve St., PoCo; admission is by donation of cash or a non-perishable food item. For more information, visit www.kidsportcanada.ca and look for the Tri-Cities link by clicking Find a Chapter.
KidSport was created in 1993 and has given over 450,000 children across Canada a chance to participate in sports.
