City of Nanaimo youth of the Leaders in Training program helping parents find free sporting goods at the Shed Your Threads event. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE

The City of Nanaimo’s “Shed Your Threads” event scores a big win for parents

Jul 11, 2021 | 8:00 AM

NANAIMO – Relief to the high cost of sports was found by Nanaimo parents at a City event.

Hundreds of pieces of sports equipment, from shoes to bats and snowboard boots, were available for free at the first Shed Your Threads event on Friday, July 9 at the Bowen Park Auditorium.

One mother walked away with equipment she didn’t even know she needed, after her young son started playing with a soccer ball.

“It’s now his new best friend. He’s going to have the opportunity to play with that and with other kids. It’s a great opportunity to introduce him to other sports.”

As a family of hockey lovers, she said they’re looking hard at cheaper alternatives.

roster shakeup

Nanaimo Clippers lose two major players to Major Junior ranks

15h ago

armed robbery

Knife-wielding man robs south Nanaimo liquor store

23h ago

Shorthanded

Clippers fall short hosting Bulldogs

Dec 14, 2024

“We know our kids are never going to be put into hockey because of the cost of it. So we try other things, like T-ball and soccer, where we don’t have to worry about the cost for the kids.”

Even baseball, soccer and basketball, which can be seen as the cheaper and more affordable sports, still come with high costs.

A father at the event picked up a bat and some baseballs for his son who plays competitively.

“We travel four days a week now for baseball. It’s gas and good and registration, up in the hundreds and hundreds of dollars. In this day and age everything’s costing so much. It’s hard to put your kids into a program without help of some sort.”

He said they’ve had to turn down baseball camps and it pained him to see the look of disappointment on his sons face.

Thankfully, he said his son would be overjoyed to have more balls to bat around the backyard to improve their skills.

The goods were donated from around the community at various donation drives.

Event staff said they hope to hold another Shed Your Threads event in August and perhaps take the donated goods directly to the players at sporting events.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt