BERLIN- Stephen Decatur High School’s Connections Club last week made a significant donation to a popular charity after collecting nearly 400 pounds of donated sporting equipment, clothing and shoes to the Global Gear Drive.

Global Gear Drive collects and distributes new and used sporting goods and other gear and distributes it to needy kids in the U.S. and other countries. Under the guidance of the larger National Alliance of Youth Sports, founded and directed by Ocean City local Fred Engh, the Global Gear Drive is also an arm of the Sammy Wilkinson Foundation, another local charitable organization that lends support to disadvantaged youth locally and around the world.

Decatur’s Connections Club has been an active contributor to the program and last week donated over 390 pounds of sport gear to Ocean City Recreation and Parks’ Al “Hondo” Handy, the local representative for Global Gear Drive. Club sponsor Laurie Chetlat pointed out that last year, Ocean City Elementary and Stephen Decatur High School received a letter from a Peace Corps volunteer that included a photograph of children in Guatemala playing with donated gear.

“It is our hope that the National Alliance of Youth Sports will find a community that will benefit from our donation to provide recreational opportunities for children in less fortunate communities,” she said.