Bridgeport Youth Sports Locker Opens Today
By Julie Perine on January 25, 2024
It’s been a passion project in the making for some time, but Bridgeport Youth Sports Locker opens its doors this afternoon.
Located behind Wayne Jamison Field - on the top floor of the former Little League concession stand - the facility serves young athletes by providing free athletic gear and clothing.
“We have everything – baseball and softball bats, batting helmets, balls of all kinds, cleats, shin guards and gently-used and brand-new baseball and softball pants,” said Samantha Broadwater, co-organizer.
The sports locker opens for the first time today from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Broadwater stressed that it is not a charity, but rather a community program from which local families can benefit.
“Everyone is welcome to use it. It’s available for anybody to utilize and exchange gear. If you have a bat that your child has outgrown, bring it in and exchange it for another one,” she said.
The inspiration behind the project was the realization of just how expensive it is to have kids in sports. An elementary school teacher, Broadwater was also aware that some families simply cannot afford it and thus kids are left out of youth sports.
“We want everyone to be able to play – to give accessibility to every single kid,” she said. “A family might have four or five kids in sports and spending several hundreds of dollars per year.”
There is one area that organizers hope to build upon.
“We’d love to get donations of items relating to gymnastics, like leotards, and dance attire – ballet and jazz shoes and anything like that. We don’t want to be limited," said co-organizer Radine Gum.
The facility may even collect and offer snow gear and clothing, such as snowsuits and boots.
Items at the Youth Sports Locker have been donated by local families and businesses. Items have been coming in for several months and organizers are happy to have a location from which to distribute them.
Because of generous donations, the Youth Sports Locker is also able to financially aid families to pay registration fees.
“Everyone has been crazy supportive, and we are just very thankful and blessed. The overall support of the community has been nothing short of amazing,” Gum said.
Organizers look forward to seeing area families at today’s debut. Bring a shopping bag if you plan to get gear or clothing. If not, stop by, see the facility and chat. Donations are, of course, welcome.
“We’re just excited to help out the Bridgeport community,” Gum said. “I feel like it’s very close and tight-knit and it seems like sports are really a big thing here. It kind of helps that my husband Jeremy grew up here and was involved in all the sports and I just want to be involved and help all our youth athletes and give everything they need to be successful."
Future dates of operating hours will be announced at a later date.
“In the meantime, if anyone has any needs, they can always message us and we can meet them down there, do a drop-off or meet somewhere,” Gum said.
Message Broadwater at 304-612-3196 and Gum at 304-376-4957.
Editor's Note: Pictured top/cover are (front from left) Rhyus Gum, Luke Nicewarner, Ace Broadwater and Cam Nicewarner. (Back from left) Radine Gum and Samantha Broadwater.
