Mary Crowe needed hockey equipment for a youth club in Erie, PA so she got in her car and made a six-hour drive to Sharon Hill, where she hooked up with a nonprofit called Leveling the Playing Field, writes Isabella DiAmore for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“‘Take as much as you need, whatever you need for your program,’” Crowe was told when she entered the warehouse.

Leveling the Playing Field collects new and used sports equipment and then distributes it to schools and organizations who lack resources or funds.

“What LPF does allows me to provide more kids the opportunity to play,” Crowe said.

Max Levitt founded the organization in 2013 out of Washington, D.C. It has expanded since then, opening its Philadelphia area location two years ago.

When the organization needed staff and rent money for the Sharon Hill warehouse, the Philadelphia Eagles were on board with a significant amount of money, Levit said.

“They also brought players, staff, and a lot of media to our warehouse for the opening day, where they literally came and built it.”

The warehouse has generated 496 distributions this year, impacting 258 programs in the area. 

Find out more about the origins of Leveling the Playing Field and future plans in The Philadelphia Inquirer.