A surfing group in Manatee County is making waves with its initiative. They’re giving kids the gift of surf – for free.
“It is so freeing when you’re on the water,” says Kids With Boards organizer Kevin Greer.
He’s a lifelong surfer, who started the Facebook group Kids With Boards AMI after helping his stepson, Ayden, pick up surfing during the stay-at-home-orders.
“I thought ‘why are kids not outside right now?’,” Greer recalled. “You don’t have to be close to [each other to] have this experience.”
Since starting the page, several kids have expressed interest in want to ride the waves – but they couldn’t afford a board.
“Surfboards are expensive. No one could afford $300 for a used board nowadays,” Greer says.
So, he is asking the community for donations of boards that he can repurpose – and give to his surfing students.
“The look on their faces when they get that board… is amazing,” he says.