Nutley Collecting Sports Equipment

Lacrosse sticks and shin guards cluttering your basement? Did your kids outgrow their baseball pants and last year’s mitts? Don’t’ worry, the Township of Nutley has a good home for these gently used items.

Starting this fall, the township is launching a new program called “Sports Equipment Encourages Kids” an recycling program designed to bring sports gear to kids who need it.

Commissioner Mauro Tucci directs the township's recreation department, and said his people are always looking for help to improve recreation experiences for all residents.

"We have more than 125 programs, ranging from those for toddlers to many for seniors," Tucci said in an interview. "It makes things better to have a myriad of sports activities."

Now, with hard financial times affecting so many, Tucci said, anything that people can do to contribute is so badly needed.

"With this different economic climate, we need to have the most programs we can, and we don't want to see anyone stopped from doing anything now," he said. 

New and gently-used sports equipment such as gloves, bats, baseball pants, sliding shorts, and cleats are needed, officials said. Other items wanted are soccer shorts, socks, shin guards, cleats, lacrosse sticks or any other type of sports equipment, and all sizes are needed.

Officials are also collecting plastic bins to store equipment before distribution.

The Township Recreation Dept. will collect sports equipment at the Nutley High School cafeteria on September 8 from 9:30 a.m. until 12 noon.

A family in need of sports equipment for a child or children participating in sports in any of the recreation programs or at the high school can contact the Nutley Family Service Bureau at 973-667-1884 to find out how to benefit from this programs. Requests are kept confidential