Removing Barriers
Play it Forward is United Way of NWFL’s annual Youth Sports Equipment Swap Meet each Spring that connects students and youth who want to play sports with the equipment they need to get in the game. Many families in our region face the very real challenge of high equipment costs, which can prevent children from joining a sport they are excited about or from continuing a sport they already love. By offering free, good quality equipment, Play it Forward removes one of the most common barriers to participation and opens the door for more children to experience the physical, social, and emotional benefits of youth sports. In partnership with Coastal Waste and Recycling, this initiative also gives new life to gear that is no longer being used in homes across our community. Instead of sitting forgotten in a closet or ending up in a landfill, that equipment becomes an opportunity for the next child to grow, learn, and belong. Through this effort, United Way of NWFL helps create a more inclusive and supportive sports environment where every young person has a fair chance to play, regardless of their financial circumstances. .
Why it Matters
Children who participate in sports experience a wide range of physical, mental, and social benefits that support healthy development. Regular participation helps build strong bones and muscles, supports healthy weight, and establishes lifelong habits of physical activity. Studies show that children who play sports between ages nine and eighteen are five to six times more likely to stay active as adults, and adolescents who participate are eight times more likely to remain active into their mid twenties. Beyond physical health, sports provide important mental and emotional benefits. Young athletes tend to have lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self esteem, and more opportunities to build friendships and social skills. These experiences strengthen resilience and teach teamwork, responsibility, and confidence. Sports participation is also linked with improved concentration, better classroom behavior, and stronger academic outcomes, and data for female athletes shows major reductions in risky behaviors. All of these benefits make sports a powerful tool for promoting youth opportunity, healthy communities, and long term community resiliency.
How you can help
You can support Play it Forward in several meaningful ways that directly impact local children. Donating your gently used sports equipment is one of the easiest and most helpful ways to make a difference, since every cleaned and usable item becomes a chance for a child to step onto the field or court with confidence. Community members and businesses can also help by sponsoring the event, which strengthens our ability to reach more families and ensures that the swap meet remains free and accessible. Volunteers play a vital role as well by helping sort equipment, greet families, and create an organized and welcoming experience for everyone who attends. If you prefer to give something brand new, purchasing and donating new balls, shoes, bats, protective gear, or other essentials helps fill gaps where gently used items may be limited. No matter how you choose to contribute, your support helps remove financial barriers and gives more young people the opportunity to discover the joy and lifelong benefits of sports.
Play it Forward in Action
Our Sports Equipment Swap Meet is more than just an event, it’s a celebration of community, equity, and opportunity. By removing the financial barriers of expensive sports gear, physicals, and registration fees, we’re opening doors for families who simply want the best for their children.
At our most recent event, we had the joy of welcoming a bright-eyed student and his loving grandmother, who arrived early, excited, and ready. The moment the doors opened, he eagerly explored the equipment tables, his eyes lighting up as he selected a baseball bat, glove, helmet, balls, and a backpack; everything he needed to get in the game.
With his new gear in hand and a beaming smile, he and his grandmother joined the line for a complimentary sports physical, thanks to the generosity of PanCare. They also discovered how a United Way scholarship could fully cover his recreation league registration, turning possibility into reality.
This is the heart of our mission. Ensuring no child ever has to sit on the sidelines because of cost. Making sure every family, no matter their financial situation, has the chance to thrive, to participate, and to belong.
That’s the power of United Way. Empowering families. Uplifting children. Creating a community where everyone has the same chance to play, grow, and succeed.