Countless children all over the world have little more than a crumpled water bottle to kick around. Meanwhile, in our own backyards and garages, old soccer balls and basketballs are going unused, wasting space and waiting to end up in a landfill.

What if you could tidy-up your garage, do something nice for the Earth and put a smile on a child’s face all in one simple gesture?

The Illinois Park & Recreation Association is pleased to announce its partnership with a spirited new not-for-profit effort. Rebound Sports Project collects used sports equipment and passes it along to children in need. Based in Mt. Prospect, Rebound regularly ships reusable inflatable sports balls to rural villages in Mexico, South America and Africa.

On Friday, September 12 from 9am-3pm, the IPRA and Rebound will be collecting balls at the IPRA headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace. Simply bring your old soccer and basketballs to the back parking lot, where representatives from Rebound Sports and IPRA will be waiting.

Please promote this collection at your agency, at your day camps and youth sports leagues – encourage your patrons to donate! In the meantime, gather those old balls and get ready to pass along a smile.