FAQs

Hours: Each LPF location operates on a standard 9 AM to 5 PM ET schedule.

• Drop Off: You can drop off 24/7 as each location has secure a drop bin/trailer located outside of the warehouse
• Volunteering: By appointment only. You can register and sign up for a specific volunteer shift here or by emailing info@levelingtheplayingfield.org
• Pick Up: If you are looking to pick up equipment and have been approved, you can email info@levelingtheplayingfield.org to receive your warehouse’s appointment link

We accept almost all sports equipment /items associated with: Soccer, baseball, softball, football, basketball, ice hockey, field hockey, golf, tennis, and lacrosse and more. We also accept PE/Recess items for use by schools.

Items that we do NOT accept: We also don’t accept athletic clothing (sweatshirts, compression shirts, individual jerseys, underwear, hats), bicycles, bicycle helmets, trophies, running/cross training shoes, fishing gear, swimming equipment, ski/snowboard equipment and cups/jock straps.

View our full list of items we can and cannot accept

We greatly appreciate when individuals or groups volunteer to collect equipment for us because 90% of our donations come from individual donors!

To run an equipment collection drive, complete our collection drive registration form. An LPF staff member will set up a phone call with you to discuss what materials you need and identify the best places/times to collect.

Once you have completed the equipment drive, a staff member will work with you to schedule a time to drop off the collected equipment at our warehouse or pick up items from your location.

It begins by filling out our grant application online here.

An LPF staff member will review the application and reach out to you to set up a site call or visit to determine your eligibility. If approved after the site visit/call, you will be invited to our warehouse to pick up the necessary equipment for your program. Please allow 1-2 weeks for LPF staff to review and process your grant application before scheduling your site visit or site call.

For more information visit us here

We accept new and gently used sports equipment only. Items are checked for quality by volunteers and staff prior to distribution. 

We ask that any equipment donated is as clean as possible and is free of excess dirt/mold. We do not have a service to clean the equipment.

Best practice is to ask: “Would I give this piece of equipment to my child to use?”

The donated equipment goes to schools in under-resourced communities. A few determining factors for schools eligible for donations include Title I schools, as well as schools with high percentages of students who qualify for the FARM (Free and Reduced Meals) program.

For programs which aren’t schools, beneficiaries include recreation centers, after-school programs, and other non-profits which serve children.

While many of our donations are redistributed to programs in current LPF markets, we also work with beneficiaries worldwide who are able to visit a warehouse.

Yes, we are! Volunteering at our warehouses, running a collection drive, and becoming a bin ambassador, are fun ways to earn service learning hours.

Learn more about our volunteer opportunities here.

Absolutely.

It is up to you to value the items you donate. We will provide you with an itemized receipt and our tax ID number.

If you make a donation after hours/over the weekend, please email info@levelingtheplayingfield.org to request a blank tax receipt.

No. Our grants only provide access to our donated sports equipment.

We will accept equipment donations in the mail, provided the sender covers the cost of shipping. Please see below for addresses to LPF locations and select the warehouse you’d like to ship your donations to:

Baltimore warehouse address:
1794 Union Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21211

Greater Washington warehouse address:
8845 Monard Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Ohio warehouse address:
4848 Evanswood Dr.
Columbus, OH 43229

Philadelphia warehouse address:
404 Elmwood Avenue
Sharon Hill, PA 19079

Southeast Michigan’s warehouse address:
3183 Meldrum St.
Detroit, MI 48207

Western New York warehouse address:
79 Benbro Dr.
Buffalo, NY 14225

LPF does not ship items internationally.

If an international program has a contact in the US, and the contact is able to visit an LPF warehouse, an international program can be approved to receive equipment from LPF.

The international program and their contact are responsible for all shipping and logistics associated with sending gear to its intended location.

Examples of large items include workout machines, soccer goals, basketball hoops, and pool tables.

We do not have room for large items in our warehouses (see our list of accepted equipment). On occasion, we can pick up your item when we have identified a beneficiary who can accept the item on the same day. We typically make these items available in our Beneficiary newsletter.

Please email a picture of the equipment along with a brief description of the item to info@levelingtheplayingfield.org.