Racquets for Recreation is a program created by Jessica Seidman to collect racquets from drop boxes at area clubs and courts and distribute them to those who might not be able to afford them.

Jessica is a recent graduate of Wesleyan University. She created this program when she was twelve years old when she saw some old racquets laying around in her garage one day. She thought about those that are not as fortunate as her and decided to do something to help them.

Jessica said, "I thought one day that everyone should be able to experience tennis and have the privileges that I have every day."

Babolat has also helped by generously donating over one-hundred racquets to the program a few years ago. In addition, Donnay has also made a generous donation of racquets. Jessica has also received a generous donation of racquets from USTA New England through an equipment grant. Some of the racquets need repair jobs once they are donated and Jessica makes sure they are fixed before the children receive them.

Additionally, Jessica works with members of USTA New England to redistribute the racquets to the children. Her work has not gone unnoticed. She also received a thank-you letter from the USTA.

Some of the organizations that have received racquets include the New Haven Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees, Grass Roots of New Haven, First Serve Bridgeport, 100 Black Men of Stamford, Gilbert School Girl's Tennis Team, Branford Parks & Recreation and Hamden Youth Tennis Programs

While the majority of the clubs that have boxes are located in Connecticut, the project has also expanded into Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and New York. Jessica is continuing to place donation boxes around the nation. Jessica recently worked with a coordinator from an elementary school in the Philippines and sent over a shipment of about 40 racquets to help grow the game of tennis abroad. If your club is interested in having a box, email Jessica at racquetsforrecreation @ gmail.com. 

List of Participating Clubs:

New York:
New Rochelle Racquet Club
2550 Palmer Ave
New Rochelle, NY 10801

‪Connecticut:
‪Pinewoods Health & Racquet Club
‪104 Pinewoods Road
Torrington, Connecticut 06790

‪Oak Lane Tennis
1027 Racebrook Road
‪Woodbridge, CT 06525

Shippan Racquet Club
‪45 Harbor Drive
‪Stamford, CT 06902

Kings Highway Tennis Club
‪98 Old Kings Highway North
‪Darien, CT 06820

Tennis Central
110 ‪Bradley Road
Woodbridge, CT 06525

‪Middlebury Racquet Club
950 Southford Road
Middlebury, CT 06762

‪Massachusetts:
Marcus Lewis Tennis Center
‪10 Granite Road
Acton, MA 01720

The Longfellow Club 
524 Boston Post Road
Wayland, MA 01778

The Natick Racquet Club
16 Michigan Drive
Natick, MA 01760

Dedham Health and Athletic Complex
200 Providence Highway
Dedham, Massachusetts
  

‪Rhode Island:
Pond View Racquet Club
‪252 Shore Road
Westerly, RI 02891

Centre Court Tennis Club
‪55 Hospital Road
Riverside, RI 02915

‪Pennsylvania:
Westwood Racquet Club
‪2660 Zuck Road
Erie, PA 16506 

Hillcrest Racquet Club
4401 Perkiomen Avenue
Reading, PA 19606