Celebrating One Million Pounds, Part 1: Reflections on Clean Out For A Cause - A Journey of Faith, Impact, and Eternal Purpose

The USG Operations Team is celebrating its One Millionth Pound of Donations.

Blessings to all the members, donors, board members, staff, and all of you who have helped reach this important milestone. I wanted to take some time to share what the Clean Out For A Cause program means to me and express my gratitude for all involved. If you've ever wondered how excess sports gear could become a vessel for God's kingdom work, then pull up a chair.

Today, I'm sharing a deeply personal reflection on the Clean Out For A Cause program—what it means to me, its profound impact on the sports industry through Uncommon Sports Group (USG), and the incredible ways it has shaped my life. As someone who's spent nearly two decades in the trenches of athletics, from dusty equipment rooms to high-stakes game days, the sports industry isn't just an initiative; it's a divine calling.

I'll weave in my testimony of being introduced to USG as a believer navigating the industry's challenges, the honor of serving on the board that paved the way for my full-time role as Director of Donor Relations, and the myriad relationships the Lord has built through my years in over 300 equipment rooms. So many deserve thanks for this organization's achievements, but ultimately, all glory goes to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who provides abundantly for something far greater than we could imagine.

What Clean Out For A Cause Means to Me

To me, Clean Out For A Cause is more than a donation program—it's a symphony of redemption, where the overlooked and excess become instruments of hope. Picture this: in the world of sports, teams accumulate mountains of apparel, footwear, and gear each season. New sponsorships roll in, uniforms get refreshed, and suddenly, storage spaces overflow with perfectly good items that no longer fit the current lineup.

Rather than letting these gather dust or contribute to waste, Clean Out For A Cause, an official USG program, steps in. Donors—be they college programs, pro teams, or even individuals—request free boxes and shipping labels, pack up their excess, and send it off. USG then redistributes these items through global partnerships, sells unique pieces via its eCommerce arm, Locker Room Direct, and uses the proceeds to fund faith-based initiatives that benefit the sports industry.

On a personal level, this program symbolizes God's economy of abundance. In Ephesians 3:20, we're told He can do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." That's precisely what happens here. Excess cleats might equip a missionary in Africa, teaching life skills through soccer to at-risk youth. A box of jerseys could fund a chaplain's work doing a community service event, offering spiritual guidance amid the pressures of performance.

For me, it's a reminder that nothing is wasted in God's plan. Having witnessed the industry's extravagance firsthand—the lavish gear hauls that often end up unused—seeing it repurposed stirs my soul. It's stewardship in action, turning material blessings into eternal investments.

This meaning deepened during my own seasons of doubt. Sports can be all-consuming, leaving little room for reflection. Clean Out For A Cause has been my anchor, showing me that my work has purpose beyond the office, field, or arena. It meant freedom from clutter for teams, tax benefits for donors, and most importantly, lives changed. As we approach the milestone of 1 million pounds donated (we're at over 994,000 as I write this), I see God's hand multiplying our efforts, just like the loaves and fishes.

My Personal Testimony: Introduced to USG as a Believer in the Industry

My story with USG begins in the early 2010s, a time when I was deeply embedded in the sports industry but feeling spiritually adrift. I had come to faith in Christ during college, drawn to His grace amid the chaos of student-athlete life.

But as I transitioned into professional roles—starting in athletics compliance—the demands challenged me in new ways. I worked long hours on rosters, processing scholarship requests, and checking eligibility reports. I was blessed to be part of a great Christ-centered leadership team and a University that offered the ability to be forward with your faith while at work. 

When God called and had different plans for me professionally, I found myself with a hole in my life without the same spiritual guidance and leadership in my new role. That's when a divine introduction happened. Meeting Drew Boe while on the road as a vendor in space quickly filled this void in my life. USG, then evolving from its roots as Managers On A Mission, was described as a faith-based community for Christians in the college and pro sports industry. A relationship with Drew started, and I was able to connect my work with the Lord's work once again. 

This introduction came at a crucial juncture in my life. I was in my late 30s, married with young kids, and the industry's grind was straining everything. Burnout loomed; I even considered leaving sports. But USG reignited my fire.

Through their community, I found mentors who prayed over my struggles, shared testimonies of God's provision, and helped me view equipment rooms as mission fields. I started incorporating faith into my work—praying with staff and organizing small Bible studies during downtime. Clean Out For A Cause became my entry point; I coordinated my first donation from the road, shipping boxes of excess sneakers, apparel, and equipment. 

That period was transformative. USG's emphasis on navigating industry temptations (fame, pressure, moral compromises) equipped me to stay grounded. It wasn't just professional development; it was spiritual revival. Without this, I might have quit. Instead, it solidified my identity as a believer in the industry, showing me how faith could be throughout my professional life. USG became family, and Clean Out For A Cause is a part of our lifecycle that has made it all possible.

The Honor of the Board and My Path to a Full-Time Role

Building on that foundation, my involvement deepened. By 2018, USG invited me to their board—a tremendous honor. The board comprised passionate leaders: former pros, coaches, and executives united by faith. My niche? Insights from the equipment side. I'd seen how the COFAC program worked and the considerable benefits to both the donors and our organization.

Through that lens, we worked as a group to reach new heights with the program while staying rooted in our firm foundation in the Lord. Board meetings were highlights: starting with prayer, diving into strategy, and ending in fellowship. We brainstormed expanding Clean Out For A Cause, partnering with more teams, and leveraging relationships to reach more with the opportunity.

During this time, I was asked to lead a mission trip to Uganda with four other members. While I thought I was heading out to change the lives of many, I was not prepared for the slice of humble pie I was going to be handed during this trip. On this trip, my priorities were challenged, and on the way home, I changed my life and priorities to spend more time with my family and put my wife and kids at the top of my priorities list.

After finding a new job opportunity that allowed me to work from home more, my biggest challenge was figuring out how to still contribute to the organization that meant so much to me and so many others in the industry.

This service naturally led to my full-time role. In 2022, as USG grew, the Director of Donor Relations position opened. Leadership approached me, citing my board contributions and industry network. It was a faith step—leaving a secure job for nonprofit work—but I felt God's leading.

As Director, I oversee donor engagement for Clean Out For A Cause, cultivating relationships, coordinating shipments, and tracking impact. It's rewarding to see pounds turn into purpose. From humble board member to leading donor efforts, it's God's promotion, not mine.

The Impact on the Sports Industry Through USG

Clean Out For A Cause has revolutionized the sports industry via USG. Environmentally, it diverts used and excess items from landfills, aligning with sustainability emphasis across the globe. Philanthropically, proceeds fund USG's core: Connect, Encourage, and Equip Christians working throughout the college and professional sports industry by maximizing the impact of the sport industry resources.

Football cleats support a bible study, a batch of practice shirts from a recently retired coach helps a graduate assistant attend the WBCA convention for the first time, the locker clean-out initiative by the track and field program helps an equipment manager attend his/her first convention. These are the everlasting impacts created by the Clean Out For A Cause program through Uncommon Sports Group.

The Relationships Forged: Over 300 Equipment Rooms and Counting

The Lord has woven an incredible tapestry of relationships through my career. It has been a privilege to step into over 300 equipment rooms—from high schools to pros. Each room holds stories: the harried manager at a Big Ten school sharing his faith over inventory or the NBA staffer confiding struggles during lunch while in the facility.

These connections are God-ordained. Early on, mentors in the industry guided me technically and spiritually. With USG, they've exploded—coordinating donations and building bonds with 200+ teams. One memorable thing was seeing the Lord grow in the child of one of my former staff members and connecting them to USG after being out of touch for over a decade. These aren't transactions; they're eternal links, fostering accountability and encouragement.

In those rooms, I saw God's work: conversions amid gear stacks and prayers for injured players. It humbled me and showed the industry's need for Christ.

Gratitude and Ultimate Thanks

There are so many to thank: donors, board members, USG staff, and the inhabitants of the 300+ rooms. Your generosity fuels this. But ultimately, thanks to Jesus Christ—Provider, Redeemer. He turns excess into abundance, calling us to greater things. May Clean Out For A Cause continue glorifying Him.

Josh Meyer

Director of Donations

Uncommon Sports Group