BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Any gear you've got; fielding gloves, batting gloves, bats and catcher gear. They need it all. "We're fundraising for the youth that were affected by the Eaton Fire. We're doing an equipment drive," James Hintz, the owner of Bakersfield Gameday Gloves said. He came up with the idea to do an equipment drive after learning his friend, the president of several youth baseball organizations in the area, lost his home. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with loved ones around Kern County "It really hit me hard, because in the past my parents' house burnt down because of a fire, and we had nothing," Hintz said. That idea reached the ears of Shane Gardner, head coach of 12U travel baseball team, the Bakersfield Brawlers. He came up with something much bigger; a fundraising/donation tournament. "It's a one day tournament that NCS is putting on, so we've partnered up with NCS and Influencer Youth Sports to also do the gear collection event that day. People can drop off used equipment, new equipment, whatever they can," coach Gardner said. The get-in price for teams hoping to play; $400. Well below the usual asking price of nearly $600. Gardner says 26 teams from across California have paid to play and support. But there's a catch; teams from the Los Angeles area who were affected by the fires play for free. "Just to get them back on the field… come up and play, meet some other kids that are supporting the cause and just make new friends," Gardner added. Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage When tragedy strikes, sports usually are not front and center of the minds of the suffering. But sports can, in trying times, serve as a beacon of hope. As a symbol of the resilient spirit and caring heart of the people. And unite communities near and far. "Sports can be a unifier. It's a great way to get that normalcy back and bring some semblance of what it used to be before it happened," Hintz said. The donation drive is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 8. The fundraising tournament will take place Feb. 22 & 23. Both events will be held at Northwest Baseball located at 4009 Chester Ave. All proceeds will be donated to the area affected by the Eaton Fire.