Garden State Bathing Suit and Goggle Drive

Bathing Suits lead to swim lessons, and swimming lessons save lives.
save lives

Help us reduce the drowning burden in NJ by 30% by 2030.

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1 to 4. Did you know that in New Jersey, we lose an average of 10 children to drowning each year? Swimming lessons are essential to the safety of children, especially in under-resourced communities. Many agencies around the state have risen to the occasion by providing swim instruction for little or no cost to children, but…. 

Access to swim lessons requires a proper bathing suit. For many families, this has been one of the major stumbling blocks to access these lessons. 

Join the Effort!
Our campaign begins each year in May at NJ-based aquatic facilities, swim
schools, competitive swim venues, recreation departments, and waterparks. NEW Bathing suits and goggles collected will be distributed through facilities recognized by both NJRPA and NJSSA for their commitment to drowning prevention education.
Get Creative!
Sponsor a Bathing Suit and Goggles Drive at your facility. Be creative. Offer a special day, special pricing, or a unique approach to promoting this drive. Perhaps a Guest Pass for every bathing suit and google donation? Perhaps, entry into a raffle for a season pass for each bathing suit and goggle donated? Or, just for an act of kindness for the benefit of NJ’s kids! The motivators are left up to you! No aquatic venue, no problem. Collect at your concerts, movies, and camps!
Get Others to Help!
Find your local social service agency or charitable organization to help collect suits. Solicit participation through your social media and emails. Get your friends and families to contribute. Scouts, Junior Leagues, and PTOs, among others, will embrace the campaign for sure.

Register today to be a part of this campaign.

History of the Garden State Bathing Suit and Goggle Drive

  • 2018, Breakwater Beach Waterpark in Seaside Heights NJ conducted the first state- wide bathing suit drive for homeless families,  spearheaded by Christine Palma.
  • 2019, NJRPA partnered with Breakwater Beach and other NJ based aquatic venues and waterparks to conduct a successful Bathing Suit Drive by collecting over 600 bathing suits.
  • 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we could not sponsor such drives.
  • In 2022, NJRPA re-energized, collecting and distributing over 400 bathing suits and goggles. Each suit had an information card on drowning prevention from the NJ Swim Safety Alliance.
  • 2023 the Garden Sate Bathing Suit and Google Drive was expanded. NJRPA, Partnering the New Jersey Swim Safety
    Alliance and Dolfin Swimwear partnered to drive a collection and distribution effort three times the size of the initial efforts. 
  • Today, we continue to partner with these fantastic organizations and raise money to grow the Swimsuit and Goggle Drive each year. 
New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association, Dolfin Swimwear, and New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance logos