Organizers of a used sports equipment sale in North Delta are shooting to make it an annual event.
The sale, hosted by North Delta Minor Hockey Association, will take place this Saturday (Aug. 11) at North Delta Recreation Centre.
Donations of sports equipment of all kinds are welcomed for the inaugural event, to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 11415 84th Ave. Admission is free, but $5 will be charged to “early birds” starting at 9 a.m.
The cash-only sale is a way to help make playing sports more affordable.
“The gear will be priced not at market value, because it’s all priced to go,” said Rob Reid, lead organizer of the sale.
“All sticks, for example, whether it’s a $200 composite or a $20 Canadian Tire special, they’re all priced at $10,” he added. “Of course, the $200 one will sell first.”
All sports gear will be sold — balls, pucks, jerseys, bikes, skateboards, bats, pads and more.
Reid, a board member with the hockey association, said people who want to donate gear to the sale can drop it off at the rec centre on Thursday and Friday (Aug. 9 and 10), from 3 to 10 p.m. daily.
“A lot of this stuff, we know it’s just sitting in garages, but people don’t want to chuck it out, so this is a way for people to get rid of some of that clutter and also make a donation,” Reid said.
“It’s also a case of kids just outgrowing the gear. It’s not worn out, it’s just outgrown. It’s still useful for younger players. Gear like this will be great for a new player looking to sign up to play hockey, and that’s the whole point of it. Some of these sports are so expensive to get into, so this is a way to help make it more affordable for people.”
Any money raised during the sale will be put into initiatives such as smaller nets for younger players, said Jeff Wales, president of the hockey association.
“It’s a fundraiser for the association, but no matter what, everybody wins,” Wales said. “People get space in their garage, and others get equipment for a more reasonable price. Playing hockey isn’t about having new gear, it’s about having fun.
“We’ll have registration information available, so the sale helps with awareness about that, too,” he added.
After the sale, any unsold equipment will be transported by Air Tindi to communities in the Northwest Territories, for youth programs there.