Student-Led Nonprofit In The Caldwells Helps Young Athletes Who Are 'Priced Out Of Sports'

CALDWELLS, NJ — The goal is simple: make youth sports more accessible by turning unused gear into opportunity. That’s the mission of Gift Your Gear, a student-led nonprofit based in the Caldwells.

Dhruv Nair, an 11th grade student from North Caldwell, told Patch that the idea to launch a nonprofit came after noticing how many kids are priced out of sports – not because of lack of interest, but because of something as simple as not having the right equipment.

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“At the same time, I saw how much lightly used gear sits unused in homes and garages,” said Nair, a student at Montclair Kimberley Academy.

“This felt like a solvable problem,” Nair added.

It turns out that the high schooler was on to something. What began as a small local effort has now grown into a student-and-volunteer-led initiative with about 25 volunteers across New Jersey and Connecticut.

“So far, we’ve collected over $20,000 worth of sports gear through dozens of community collection drives and partnered with organizations like Oasis in Paterson and Ironbound Community Corporation in Newark to distribute equipment directly to kids who need it,” Nair said.

Now, the nonprofit is expanding. There are plans to bring on more student volunteers and building partnerships with schools, leagues and community organizations across New Jersey.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Want to help Gift Your Gear grow? There are a few ways to get involved, Nair said:

• Students can join our volunteer network to organize gear drives in their schools or communities, help with sorting and distribution, or lead expansion into new towns.
• Adults (parents, coaches, community members) can donate gently used sports gear, host collection drives, or connect us with local organizations that serve youth in need.
• We’re also always looking for distribution partners (schools, nonprofits, community groups) who can help get gear into the hands of kids.

Potential donors or volunteers can reach out via the nonprofit’s website, Nair added.

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