As Kit Bag For Kids enters its 10th year of operation, it is remarkable to review how far the charity has come. In our inaugural year of 2015, we set ourselves a goal of distributing 500 soccer shirts. By the end of 2024, we had found new owners for 73,229 items of sports clothing, footwear and equipment. That’s over 8,000 items per year collected and redistributed in support of disadvantaged children across Australia. The positive impact has been extraordinary. The charity’s actions have brought joy and welcome relief to many children who can now fully participate in their favourite sporting activity. The boost to self-esteem is immeasurable.

Since establishing the charity, we have supported over 230 schools, community projects, local councils and also state governments who have in turn been able to promote exciting, fun and healthy sporting activities. As we close off the year, it is worth revisiting our ethos:-

· From our operation in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, we collect new and used sporting kit and equipment from schools and junior sports clubs across the city. In the last nine years we have collected over 200 donations and have built ongoing relationships with many schools and clubs.

· We continue to prioritise the quality of the kit and equipment that we redistribute. In fact, many of the items donated are unused. By maintaining this standard, we ensure that the children receiving donations experience the excitement of wearing a smart soccer kit, a clean pair of boots or use of a high quality cricket bat. This, in turn, instils a sense of pride and dignity in receiving the donation as well as affording children the excitement and warm feeling of inclusiveness that comes with wearing a ‘team’ shirt – an experience that many more fortunate children can take for granted.

· Donors can be satisfied knowing that not only do their donations find a new life with a very grateful recipient but that their actions go a long way to significantly reducing their landfill toll on the environment. Stacked together, our 73,000 shirts, bats and balls would reach over seven times higher than the Sydney Tower.

· All our donations are sent to recipients free of charge. We minimise costs and rely on volunteers for logistics. This year, we received significant financial support from WYN Republic and Wikiloc, along with smaller contributions via donation platforms. This support enables us to operate at our current scale.We start 2025 in a healthy position with 2,536 items in stock and five orders ready to fulfill. The national awareness of Kit Bag For Kids has grown significantly thanks to strong community support.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and learn about our projects on our website. With your help, Kit Bag For Kids is set to continue its successful journey.

In conclusion, we extend our deepest gratitude to our Board members and volunteers who generously dedicate their time and energy to ensure our success. Their professional guidance and substantial hands on engagement have been instrumental in making these achievements possible.

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