Skateboards to Disadvantaged Kids in L.A.

Community Through Skateboarding 

Hi, I’m Kelly Hernandez the co-founder of Havalina Skate Co  I’m raising money to be able to donate 1,000 skateboards to kids from disadvantaged families throughout  Los Angeles county. My mission is to make skateboarding accessible so that EVERY KID CAN SKATE. This project began March 2021 and so far we have refurbished and donated 33 skateboards to kids in need. 

My husband Alex and I collect donations of used skateboards and gear at skateparks and community events around Los Angeles county. We take everything home where we refurbish the items in our backyard workshop. First we inspect the donations to be sure they are safe for reuse then sand them down and clean them up- add some new parts like grip tape and wheels, depending on what the board needs; then we donate all of the skate gear to families in need.

We started this because we noticed that kids we came across at skateparks or on the streets were riding skateboards that were seriously damaged and falling apart. Not only is this not safe but it’s not fair. No kid should be riding a skateboard in this condition because their family is going through hard times. And that’s where we come in- we give kids skateboards that we refurbish and are near new. We always put on a new sheet of grip tape and based on the donations we receive, sometimes we’re able to give kids a new set of trucks, wheels and bearings. We work with what we have and only giveaway the best. 

Your donations will help us buy the supplies needed to refurbish and also buy parts like wheels, trucks and bearing that are rarely donated to us so that we can be sure to give kids safe complete skateboards. Your donations will also enable us to also provide kids with a helmet and pads because we want to be sure these kids are safe when they skate.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and we appreciate any donation you can make!