Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPP), is partnering with local nonprofit Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) to collect new and gently used sports equipment. The donations are distributed to schools and organizations that provide them to under-resourced youth groups, community programs, and schools in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the District of Columbia.
Equipment can be dropped off at bins located at three Montgomery Parks locations:
Olney Manor Recreational Park (near the softball field, next to the indoor swim center)
Ridge Road Recreational Park (near the accessible parking spots and baseball field)
Wheaton Regional Park – Orebaugh Area (near Wheaton Indoor Tennis).
“Our parks play a critical role for youth sports, and we are pleased to be able to provide convenient and central locations where people can donate this much-needed equipment,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “Getting kids outside and engaging them in physical activity is a key part of our mission, so this is a great program and a natural partnership for Montgomery Parks.”
“We are so excited to partner with Montgomery Parks to not only keep sports equipment out of the landfill, but also to put it into the hands of a kid looking to get off of the sidelines,” said Max Levitt, founder and executive director of Leveling the Playing Field. “The bins we have placed at parks throughout the county will significantly increase the amount of gear coming into our warehouse and will allow us to make a much deeper impact on our local community and the planet.”
We are delighted to accept:
Football
- Cleats
- Flag Football Belts
- Footballs
- Gloves
- Kicking Tees
- Mini Footballs
- Pads
- Helmets (5 years old or less)
Golf
- Bags
- Balls
- Clubs
Lacrosse
- Balls
- Fiddle Sticks (plastic)
- Goals
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Helmets
- Pads
- Sticks (any type/size)
Basketball
- Basketballs
- Basketball Shoes
- Mini Basketballs
Hockey
- Bags
- Fiddle Sticks (plastic)
- Gloves
- Goalie Equipment
- Helmets
- Hockey Pucks
- Pads
- Shorts/Pants
- Skates
- Socks
- Sticks (any type/size)
Soccer
- Soccer Balls
- Cleats
- Goalie Gloves
- Goals
- Shin Guards
- Socks
Field Hockey
- Balls
- Googles
- Sticks
Baseball/Softball
- Aluminum/Wood Bats
- Bags
- Bases (rubber & soft)
- Baseballs
- Catchers Gear
- Cleats
- Gloves (batting & fielding)
- Helmets (5 years old or newer)
- Pants
- Pitching/Batting Nets
- Pitching Machines
- Softballs
- Softie Balls
- T-Ball Sets
- Umpire Gear
- Whiffle Balls
- Whiffle Bats
Playground/Fitness/Misc.
- Agility Equipment
- Bicycles (5 years old or less)
- Ball Pumps
- Boxing/Karate Pads
- Cones
- First Aid Kits
- Free Weights
- Frisbees
- Gymnastics Equipment
- Hula Hoops
- Jump Ropes
- Kickballs
- Mouthguards (still in package)
- Pinnies
- Playground Balls
- Resistance Bands
- Roller Skates (5 years old or less)
- Swim Equipment
- Weighted Plates
- Whistles
- Yoga/Fitness Mats
Racquet Sports
- Ball Hoppers
- Tennis Balls
- Tennis Racquet Covers
- Tennis Racquets
- Badminton Sets
- Racquetball Sets
- Squash Sets
Volleyball
- Knee Pads
- Nets
- Volleyballs
What types of equipment does LPF NOT accept?
We are sorry we cannot accept:
- Bicycle Helmets
- Bicycle/Skateboard Elbow/Knee Pads
- Clothing (except full sets of uniforms)
- Croquet Sets
- Fishing Gear
- Football Helmets (must be certified or capable or recertification)
- Hats
- Partial sets of uniforms
- Ping Pong Equipment
- Protective Cups/Jock Straps
- Racquetball Equipment
- Running/Athletic Shoes (we only take cleats)
- Scooters
- Trophies
Visit Leveling the Playing Field for a detailed list of items that can be donated. Tax-deductible receipts are available upon request.
About Leveling the Playing Field
Leveling the Playing Field was founded in 2013 in response to the growing inequity between those who can afford to play sports and those who cannot, and the prominent role the cost of sporting goods was playing in that gap.
After working in youth sports, college athletics and professional football, our founder, Max Levitt, realized the volume of equipment that goes to waste from elementary school aged kids all the way up to our professional sports franchises. In response, he decided to develop a “food bank” for sports equipment.