Camden, NY – The Camden Life Center is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Edwin J. Wadas Foundation to support the creation of a Free Sports Equipment Lending Library—an innovative initiative that will expand access to youth athletics and recreation across the Camden community.
The Lending Library will provide children and teens ages 5 to 18 with free access to a wide variety of sporting equipment, including basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, snowshoes, cross-country skis, bikes, helmets, jump ropes, and more. Families will be able to borrow items year-round for recreation, skill-building, and physical activity—helping to break down financial barriers that often prevent participation in youth sports. The program is designed to be inclusive so the whole family can have fun together.
“This generous grant from the Wadas Foundation helps bring our vision to life,” said Frankie Mangona, Youth Program Director at Camden Life Center. “In a rural area like Camden, opportunities for structured recreation can be limited. By offering access to sports gear at no cost, we’re ensuring that every child—regardless of their background—has the chance to stay active, build confidence, and connect with their community.”
The initiative also includes winter sports equipment that encourages use of local resources like Forest Park, and will benefit from partnerships with the Camden Central School District, which allows community use of school sports facilities. Storage solutions, organizational materials, and more than 300 drawstring bags will help ensure the lending system is efficient and accessible.
More than just a recreation program, the Lending Library recognizes the strong link between physical activity and mental wellness. Studies consistently show that regular movement can help reduce anxiety and depression, improve focus, and boost emotional resilience—making the program an important tool for whole-child health.
The Camden Life Center was established in 2022 through a partnership between the Center for Family Life and Recovery and Come to the Table Counseling. The Center serves as a hub for behavioral health and social services in the region, delivering mission-driven support with a focus on connection, collaboration, and community.
Camden Life Center is a collaborative hub in Central New York offering integrated services including mental health support, youth programming, veteran assistance, and food access programs. This initiative reflects its mission to nourish the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—through compassionate, community-centered care.
The Camden Life Center offers a wide variety of services by different organizations. Working together, partner agencies such as Come to the Table Counseling, Center for Family Life and Recovery, Helio Health, and others bring their own unique specialization of services and programs to our community. The goal of this collaboration it to bring the most requested and needed services and support right onto Main Street, Camden.