Lions Club of Medicine Hat member James Higgins organizes some chest protectors during their Gear Up program in 2019.-NEWS FILE PHOTO
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Lions Club is gearing up to give back later this month.
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Lions Gear Up event is returning for its ninth annual donation campaign, giving families in need the opportunity to get free hockey and ringette equipment for their kids.
Program co-ordinator James Higgins says they are excited to be back and are expecting to be busy over the two-day event.
“How much do kids grow in two years,” Higgins asked. “So we’re expecting and we’re hoping we’re extremely busy.”
The event takes place over two days, Aug. 20 and 21, with the first being equipment donation day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hockey Hounds Arena. Any families with extra hockey gear in usable condition are asked to drop it off in this time frame.
The second is pickup day, where any families in need are able to pick up gear for free. Sunday runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the area and it is a first-come, first-served event.
Higgins estimated the program has helped more than 1,000 kids to date. He says they are looking for everything from helmets, shin pads, skates and more, with the exception of jocks/jills. Hockey bags, goalie equipment and sticks are also accepted by Gear Up.
Higgins says it is a rewarding program for them, and remembers one child from their third year of operation.
“This young kid about seven years old, with a single mother, they came in and we were able to outfit him from head to toe. He was so happy,” Higgins said. “He didn’t want to take this stuff off. It still affects me a bit because his mother was so emotionally struck with tears in her eyes, thanking us. Because if it wasn’t for us, she wouldn’t be able to get her kid involved.”
Another program available for Medicine Hat and area families in need, KidSport, provides grants to kids from families facing financial barriers so they can participate in registered sport programs.
They cover registration costs of sports for kids 18 and under for up to $300 per year per kid.
“We’re excited to help kids get off the sidelines, and if they need help with equipment costs, through the Gear Up program, they can also get some registration costs covered through KidSport if they qualify and if they need it,” Hannah Minor, director with KidSport Medicine Hat and Redcliff said.
Anyone looking for more information of KidSport and how to apply for a grant can do so on their website, kidsportcanada.ca/alberta/medicine-hat-and-redcliff/.
