The Vision
As envisioned, the SORA Equipment Lending Library system will make well-maintained outdoor recreational equipment available on a sliding scale or no-cost basis to serve low-income and disproportionately impacted populations from the Siskiyou-Mount Shasta region. The purpose of the project is to ensure youth and disabled people have equitable access to essential equipment so they can participate in fun and healthy activities offered through local outdoor recreation programs.
The Need
This project responds to the growing demand for equipment needed for youth and disproportionately impacted populations to participate in community recreation programs, including those that serve low-income and disabled people. By reducing or eliminating the equipment burden, programs can focus on providing high-quality experiences to the members of our community most in need.
The project aims to provide equitable access to outdoor recreation activities for low-income youth, veterans with disabilities, and athletes with physical and cognitive disabilities. SORA is excited to provide this service as an expansion of an existing service in which we loan snowshoes and Nordic skis to schools so they can offer wintertime P.E. classes on school grounds or at Mt. Shasta Nordic Center.
Equipment Goals
20 – Youth Mountain Bikes & Helmets
Through generous support from Mt. Shasta Rotary and Dignity Health Community Grants Program, we have $6,600 to spend on bikes. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, most bike manufacturers and dealers are sold out of mid-range mountain bikes, or they are on backorder until summer 2021. Meanwhile, we have a waiting list of kids who need bikes now to participate in the 2021 spring and summer Shasta Gravity Adventures, Gravity Groms program. Rather than keep the kids waiting until new bikes are available, we decided to build a fleet of used bikes!
Want to help build our fleet of youth bikes?
4 Adaptive Ski Setups
4 – Outriggers
1 – Tool kit
Want to help us build a fleet of adaptive ski equipment?
Please contact Justi Hansen for details: justi@siskiyououtdooralliance.org ~ 530-812-0110.
Nordic Ski Equipment & Snowshoes
While we have a fleet of snowshoes and cross country ski equipment, we are accepting financial contributions to upgrade our equipment or donations if the equipment is in good condition.
Please contact Justi Hansen for details: justi@siskiyououtdooralliance.org ~ 530-812-0110.
How the SORA Lending Library Works
The lending library is available to community members who need equipment to participate in the local bicycle or ski programs. This means you must be registered in a bike or ski program to check out equipment.
Please contact Justi Hansen for details: justi@siskiyououtdooralliance.org ~ 530-812-0110.
Project Sustainability
SORA will provide equipment storage, manage the library tracking and inventory control system and fundraise annually to cover the liability insurance, capital repair, and replacement costs. We partnered with the Fifth Season and Mt. Shasta Disabled Ski Program to manage the bike and adaptive ski equipment maintenance and repairs. The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center is a SORA program and maintains the snowshoe and cross country ski equipment.
Program Partners
Many thanks to Mt. Shasta Rotary and Dignity Health Community Grants Program for providing start-up funding for the bike and adaptive ski equipment fleets.
