The Robbins CalPark Eagles youth team from the southern suburbs was eagerly preparing for their first football game of the season. Unfortunately, they now face uncertainty about starting as planned after their equipment was stolen.

For decades, the Robbins CalPark Eagles have thrived as one of the largest youth football programs in the south suburbs, serving kids ages 6 to 13.

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They are getting ready for their new season in a few weeks, but there is a setback for the youngest players.

Glenn Hampton, the president of Robbins CalPark Eagles, expressed his feelings about the unfortunate situation, noting, “You see these things on the news all the time, and you have a heart for those programs, but when it happens to you, it’s a whole different thing.”

According to Hampton, their storage container, located in an empty lot off a main road, was broken into. The thief made away with crucial items used by their 6-year-olds and 7-year-olds, including dozens of shoulder pads and helmets worth thousands of dollars.

“For what we have, the exact model is $250 to date per helmet. And so, we’re down almost 60 helmets,” Hampton said.

Coach Gilbert Shepard mentioned that a parent noticed the storage container’s door ajar on Sunday. He hopes that surveillance cameras at a nearby school may have captured footage of the crime.

In the meantime, in addition to teaching plays on the field, he is having to give his team a life lesson.

“We’re telling them we have their back. We have people reaching out to us,” Shepard said.

Some of the older players are trying to make sense of what happened.

Blake Ross, a football player for the CalPark Eagles, expressed his disbelief, saying, “I just can’t believe our younger youth don’t have any more equipment, and they might not be able to play.”

Jaiden Dampier, another player, shared his frustration, stating, “I was like, ‘Why would they do that?’ Now, our younger kids have nothing to wear for the game.”

But the Robbins CalPark Eagles are hopeful all the players will be able to suit up come game time.

“We’re going to make sure these kids will be able to be on the field on the 23rd” Shepard said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the CalPark Eagles in their fundraising efforts to get new equipment.