Putting It into Gear

Here is the second half of our list of good places to donate your used gear. We hope you got off your duff and gave something to the folks in the winter issue. But if you didn’t, here’s your chance to get us to like you again, you lazy son of a bitch. Seriously, what are you really going to do with your Run DMC skateboard and that deflated soccer ball? Oh, and a stern warning: These charities are not places to dump junk. If you wouldn't give it to a friend, think twice.

The Wildize Foundation's Boots for Rangers program accepts used hiking boots in good condition. The boots go to African park rangers who patrol parks and wildlands.
wildize.org

Unite for Sight provides eye care and eye health education in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America. They accept donated eyeglasses and sunglasses. Lions Clubs International also sends donated glasses to those in need all over the world. Most eyewear stores participate in this or a similar program.
uniteforsight.org and lionsclubs.org

The Bridger Ski Foundation accepts used winter sports equipment in good condition to sell at its annual ski swap, which raises funds for its youth ski programs. Although skis and snowboards are the focus of the annual swap, coats, bibs, boots, poles, skates, goggles, gloves, and hockey equipment are also welcome.
bridgerskifoundation.com

Bikes Not Bombs also accepts used bicycles and parts. It ships the bikes to micro-enterprise bike businesses, sustainable technology projects, and youth programs in South Africa, Ghana, Guatemala, and Latin America. Some of the bikes and parts also go to a vocational training program at its Massachusetts headquarters.
bikesnotbombs.org

The National Alliance for Youth Sports has a Global Gear Drive program that gives your donated youth-sports equipment to kids in poor African, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean nations. nays.org

Check with your local pro shop about donating your used golf clubs to the Professional Golfers Association Clubs for Kids program. After cutting the shafts down and regripping the clubs, the program donates them to kids who can't afford their own.