Volunteers/supporters drive Community Action Agencies such as PEACE, Inc. Providing their time and energy, they ensure quality tax refunds and credits for those who most need them. They distribute meals, food stuffs, and other nutrition for those who are hungry. They provide smiles and kind words of encouragement for youth who can never have enough of both. A community member’s desire to strengthen their community takes many forms. We’d like to spread the word about a new PEACE, Inc. opportunity born out of a volunteer’s love for sports and family, Sports Gear for Good.
Developed by long-time PEACE, Inc. supporter and previously volunteer Jeff Miller, Sports Gear for Good provides the resources for those families and their youth to purchase quality sporting equipment or to attend a sports camp. For Kids, sports provide critical vehicles for socialization, leadership development, and fun most importantly. Yet sometimes, the cost of simply a baseball glove or a lacrosse stick can deter low-income youth from pursuing athletic interests. Jeff’s generous annual donation seeks to eliminate such barriers. Sports Gear for Good is also personal for him.
For more than 45 years, Jeff’s family has owned and operated Scholastic Sports Sales out of Manlius. As Jeff talked with the community engagement team about passing on the family business to his children, he also shared how athletics have been “good to his family” and hopes that Sports Gear for Good can pay it forward. He knows firsthand the needs of PEACE, Inc. families. For nearly 10 years (2005-2015), Jeff served as a PEACE, Inc. “Big Brother” to his “Little” Carlos. They still remain friends to this day. He also spoke about how participating in the agency’s “Give-A-Holiday” holiday gift giving program is an annual highlight for his family. At that time, Jeff and his wife come together with his children and grandchildren to shop for their assigned family and enjoy burgers at Red Robin afterword.
Through their efforts, supporters such as Jeff help PEACE, Inc. creatively respond to the needs of Central New York families. If you know a family who could benefit from Sports Gear for Good, contact our County West Family Resource Center in Baldwinsville at 315-638-1051. Likewise, have a skill or passion that you’d like to share with us? Visit our “Get Involved” Page www.peace-caa.org/get-involve.