Can Play Provides Free Sports Equipment

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Can Play is dedicated to providing free youth sports programs for elementary students in the greater Des Moines area. Their programs aim to eliminate financial barriers and promote inclusivity, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to experience the benefits of organized sports. The structure of their no-cost programming is designed to be inclusive and accommodating to participants' schedules. Practices are held once a week over the course of eight weeks, allowing students to balance their academic commitments while still enjoying the benefits of regular physical activity.

Can Play provides all necessary equipment for each sport, from basketballs to volleyball knee pads, to ensure that every child has access to the tools they need to participate fully. At the conclusion of the eight-week program, each participant walks away with not only a wealth of newfound knowledge and skills but also a t-shirt, a certificate of accomplishment, and free sports equipment pertinent to the recently completed program.

With the support of a Variety Grant, Can Play was able to provide each participant in their volleyball clinic with their very own ball to take home. This small yet meaningful gesture has already had a significant impact, as shared by one of their participants, Nariah, and her mom.

In the post-event feedback, Nariah’s mom expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “My daughter became really enthusiastic about volleyball. She doesn’t often get excited about things, but this sparked a passion in her.” For Nariah, having her own volleyball not only sparked a newfound enthusiasm, but also gave her a way to channel that excitement into daily activity and skill-building.

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