Teens Spearhead Sports Equipment Outreach

Two teens from western Loudoun are preparing to make their first shipment of sports equipment to children in Iraq as part of their new community service organization, All Geared Up.

Started by Jahna Kimm Knight and Michelle Hummel, All Geared Up aims to provide sports equipment to children in need both in the states and abroad. The students, who attend Highland School in Warrenton and Loudoun Valley High School, respectively, have been collecting gear through school drives and within their communities for several months, and will make their first shipment of soccer gear to U.S. Army Second Lieutenant Wolf-Ekkehard Hindrichs in Iraq this month.

The girls found Hindrichs through the popular Web site Craigslist, where his father was already working to gather soccer equipment to send to children in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, where Hindrichs helps to build schools. Knight said they have gathered approximately 20 soccer balls and other various essentials, including cones, pumps, cleats and whistles to send out in their first shipment.

Knight said the inspiration for All Geared Up stemmed from her own life experiences growing up as the daughter of single mother. She recalled growing up playing soccer in oversized shorts and other pieces of donated equipment when money was tight.

"I was able to play soccer only because other people helped with my gear and stuff," said Knight. Her mother Debbi encouraged her to run with the idea, and she got the ball rolling with seven pairs of old cleats she had stored in the closet.

"We want to encourage people to donate sports gear that might otherwise be stored away or simply go unused," said Knight.

Another goal of All Geared Up is to raise awareness of the growing trend of childhood obesity and get children interested in sports and physically active at a young age.

"Our hope is that by offering this equipment we can get children excited about playing a sport and in turn they become physically active," said Hummel. "It is a win-win situation."

Those looking to donate new or gently used sporting equipment can visit the pair's Web site at www.allgearedup.org or send an email to donate@allgearedup.org.