DES MOINES, Iowa — As part of the Every Kid Gets a Ball campaign, more than 900 basketballs were handed out to Des Moines children.

Hundreds of excited kids gathered at Four Mile Park to test out their new basketballs on Sunday morning.

The basketballs were provided by the Every Kid Gets a Ball campaign which enables kids in Des Moines Public Schools to participate in after school sports.

The winter months means kids are able to spend less time outside and are not always able to access public or school equipment for outdoor activities.

“This offers the opportunity for these kids that maybe can’t afford a basketball to be able to play at their local park, at home, you know, take it to school,” said Sarah Lohmeier the executive director of Friends Des Moines Parks.

“Not only promoting healthy lifestyles and activities but giving them the tools they need to be able to participate fully,” said Lohmeier.

Sarah says the program is great because it does more than just encourage kids to get active and live healthy lifestyles.

“Being part of a team, you learn so much from that,” said Lohmeier. “Just the healthy lifestyles and hopefully carrying that into your years beyond, when you’re participating in professional leagues also.”

During the frigid months of winter Peter Kiernan, the vice president of Friends Des Moines Parks, says it reminds kids that playing is still an option.

“Get out and get some exercise, you know, make awareness that parks are more than just open green spaces, that the parks offer so much more,” said Kiernan.

Every Kid Gets a Ball has helped provide more than 2,300 balls, across five sports, to kids in the Des Moines Youth Recreational Scholarship Program.