ESPN Richmond, in partnership with the local chapter of the Salvation Army Christmas Assistance Program, created Holiday Cheer and gear in 2005 to aid an underserved group the Richmond area and surrounding counties who benefit from the Salvation Army during the holiday season.

While toys and presents each year are being donated and distributed to young children throughout Greater Richmond – the Salvation Army noted that there was a lack of gifts for boys and girls ages 10 to 16. Holiday Cheer & Gear was created to focus on collecting new sporting goods to deliver to that neglected group of young boys and girls.

Celebrating 17 years in 2021, hundreds of sports “gear” items have been collected, benefiting local Richmond teenagers, who in the past would not have received any presents on Christmas Day, now have gifts to open along with their younger siblings and parents.

In partnership with the Salvation Army, ESPN Richmond’s Bob Black will host a live holiday broadcast December 3rd from 3pm to 6pm at the Lexus of Richmond’s dealership to collect donations and help bring awareness to the needy children in our area during the holiday season.

Holiday Cheer & Gear gladly accepts new, unwrapped sporting goods, equipment, and gear.
A list of appropriate items includes:

• Basketballs / Soccer balls / Football / Volleyballs / Skateboards / Baseballs, Baseball bats & gloves / Tennis balls

Holiday Cheer & Gear also accepts cash donations to purchase new sports equipment for Cheer & Gear