The Kiwanis Club of Wright City recently donated $3,000 to the Wright City Parks Department for the purchase of baseball equipment so that all children will be able to enjoy and participate in community sports, regardless of their family’s income.

Kiwanis is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in the communities that it serves. In Wright City, the Kiwanis Club operates Sports Closet, a donation-driven sporting goods supplier that gives away free, gently used sports equipment to any child that needs it.

Kiwanis Club President Jennifer Olivio said the club decided to donate to the parks department when members learned that the department needed to update baseball equipment in order to meet current safety requirements.

“I was able to buy all 15 catcher’s gear sets, four dozen baseballs, four 12-inch dozen softballs, and five dozen 11-inch softballs,” said Wright City Sports Director Eric Burton. “Without (Kiwanis), this upcoming baseball and softball season would not be a success. I thank them for their hard work.”

Money for the donation was supplied through a community grant from Cuivre River Electric Cooperative.

“This seemed like a great opportunity for us to help our local community and it was in line with our mission at the Sports Closet — to ensure that every child has what they need to pursue their sports dream,” said Olivio, the club president.

Kiwanis Club of Wright City welcomes donations to help keep the Sports Closet open and operating. Supporters can reach out by email to kiwaniswrightcity@gmail.com, or find Kiwanis Club of Wright City on Facebook.