WOODBRIDGE, CT - Four years ago, Jessica Seidman was standing in what had come to be the final resting place for many old tennis racquets - her garage.
Just 12 years old, Seidman knew there had to be a better use for old racquets, and she soon set about to make an idea a reality.
Seidman formed a program called "Racquets for Recreation." Her endeavor aimed to collect used racquets and redistribute them to prospective players who otherwise may not have the means to obtain a quality racquet.
Four years later, the program is still going strong and its impact is being felt by programs and new players throughout Connecticut.
"I started out designing some artwork on boxes that the racquets would go in," said Seidman, who is a junior at Amity High School and the No. 1 singles player on the school's tennis team. "Then, I had some boxes professionally made so that I could place them in clubs to start collecting racquets."
Throughout the years, the racquets have been distributed to many programs, including New Haven Youth Tennis, the New Haven Parks and Recreation Department and 100 Black Men of Stamford.
Jessica Seidman started Racquets for Recreation four years ago.
Seidman, who is also an accomplished participant of USTA junior tournaments, has plans to involve her high school teammates and peers in her undertaking in the future.
"I definitely plan to continue this program for a long time and make it bigger," said Seidman, who plans to study law after high school. "It's very rewarding to me to see people, especially young children, have the chance to play tennis."
Racquets for Recreation is always in need of more donations. These days, according to Seidman, the demand for youth tennis racquets has increased immensely, thanks to the rise in popularity of the QuickStart Tennis format.
"To me, and in my experience, tennis is a sport that can have a great impact on people," Seidman said. "I think the opportunity to play will help people to get to know others they wouldn't have met otherwise, and those relationships can turn into lifelong friendships."
For more information on donating your racquets or on receiving a donation box for your club or facility, visit racquetsforrecreation.com.