After a trip to a Garfield, NJ elementary school earlier this year, Nicolette Kreshpane, a junior at Mahwah High School and girls’ varsity lacrosse player, decided to share one of her passions with girls in that district.

"I originally went there because I was considering a teaching career, so I was visiting one of their elementary schools. When I found out that the district doesn't have many youth sports programs for kids to be involved in, I thought, 'why not bring one?'"

Kreshpane has been playing lacrosse in Mahwah since she was in fourth grade. "I was able to get into it at a young age, and I just think it's such a fun sport that you get so much out of. I want to help give other girls that opportunity too. 

The athlete approached Garfield's athletic director with the idea of adding a lacrosse program at the school, and she said he was all for it. "We will probably phase in lacrosse there the same way the program was started in Mahwah, first with a youth program, then a JV team, and then a Varsity team," she said.

With the help of Nicolette’s teammates, Mahwah High School lacrosse coach, Brian Girardi, and the Garfield High School athletic director, Nicolette is planning to run a free lacrosse clinic on Monday, June 11 in Garfield for fifth through eighth grade girls.

In order to start up the program, which Nicolette is calling "Sharing the Love of LAX," she needs equipment. So, she is holding two drives at Mahwah High School to collect new and used girls lacrosse equipment, and monetary donations. She said 100 percent of the money donated will be used to purchase new equipment to start the program.

What you need to know to donate:

• The first drive is this Saturday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Mahwah High School gymnasium. 
• The second drive will be Friday, May, 18 from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. in the same place. 
• Monetary contributions can be made payable to the 'Garfield Board of Education Lacrosse Fund' and mailed to: Garfield Board of Education, 500 Palisade Ave. Garfield, NJ 07026 Attn: Athletic Director Mike Alfonso.

Email Nicolette at nkreshpane@aol.com to get more information about the drives, or the 'Sharing the Love of LAX' program.