RIVER FALLS — Sporting World, a used sporting goods store off of Main Street in River Falls, is a store aiming to make recreation affordable. That is not their only goal, though, as all the store’s proceeds go toward the River Falls Community Food Pantry.

“It’s a combination between sporting goods, like team sports, and other things with the idea of just getting people outside and being active,” Owner Carole Mottaz said. “Make participation in a sport possible for families who don’t have a lot of money.”

The store gets its stock from community donations, cleans them and sells them back to the community. Items range from sports equipment like hockey gear and baseball bats to outdoor recreation items like tents, life jackets, sleeping bags, backpacks and sleds.

Mottaz said some families cannot afford the equipment required for their children to compete in sports, and hopes people in River Falls never have to feel that way.

“After we have paid all our bills, which of course nowadays are quite hefty, then all of the net proceeds at the end of the year will go to the food pantry,” Mottaz said. “I chose the food pantry because it’s one of the really important non-profits that we have in town to help people, but it doesn’t really have a fundraising arm like the others do.”

Mottaz purchased the store Jan. 1, but it was not her first experience with the store.

“I actually opened it originally eight years ago for Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Mottaz said. “They didn’t really want Sporting World anymore. I did offer it to a couple of the non-profits in town and they said no, so the only way to save it was for me to buy it.”

The team of 32 volunteers with varying duties is filled with people who have been helping out for years.

Mottaz has been a part of the River Falls community for a long time, including 24 years in the school district as a leader in designing and running the Renaissance Charter Academy, opening Our Neighbors’ Place with Mary Joan Sutton and participating in the Rotary and Lions Clubs.

“I’m not quite a towny, but I’ve sure come close because I’ve lived here for 51 years,” Mottaz said. “I love River Falls, I love the people, I love the atmosphere. I think there are a lot of people working hard to make other people’s lives better, so I’m just very happy to be part of that group.”

The shop also has its own place to drop off food to be sent to the food pantry. Mottaz said with the store and the pantry having different hours, it offers a larger window for residents to make a donation. Sporting World also recently got a new website, sportingworldriverfalls.com. The site provides more information on the items available at the store.

“I’m just super grateful for the volunteers, because they are really, really dedicated,” Mottaz said. “I’m very grateful to the people who donate the goods, because they do donate very good quality, and then I’m grateful for the people who come and buy.”

Sporting World is located at 707A N. Main St. It’s open 1-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.