Salvation Army to auction off old Biddy Basketball equipment

May 12, 2011|By Michael Schwanke | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — The Salvation Army is auctioning off gear from its Biddy Basketball program. Folks turned out to bid on things like scoreboards, equipment and other items from the program.

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Biddy Basketball is coming back to Wichita. “Relieved…I think everyone is relieved,” says Chris Brown, a long time Biddy coach and part of the group trying to revive the program.

The Salvation Army announced the end of Biddy Basketball earlier this year, blaming it on dwindling numbers.

The two sides have had trouble reaching an agreement to help keep the program going.
“It's been a very frustrating process for both sides,” says Brown.

The new group has accused The Salvation Army of wanting to profit from what's inside the building that housed Biddy Basketball. The building itself was donated by the Garvey family back in 1995, but The Salvation Army had to maintain it and buy everything it takes to run the basketball program.

FactFinder 12 learned that at first The Salvation Army wanted almost $100,000 but the new group contends that those things were bought with money meant to be donated to Biddy Basketball, not to The Salvation Army.

“I understand where they're coming from and why they would assume that...but the donations we receive are given to the Salvation Army,” says Major Douglas Rowland with the Salvation Army.

Tuesday, all sides came together and settled on a $25 thousand amount.
Now there’s another challenge. The group wanting to revive the program has less than a month to renovate the building and market the league.

“It's going to be all hands on deck,” says Brown.

Brown says the group hopes to have the program schedule and information released before school lets out for the summer.

The Salvation Army has a bunch of equipment they don't need anymore. That includes bleachers, a scoreboard control, a hoop and even a popcorn machine.

An auction will be Monday, May 16, at 10:30 in the morning.

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