What's better than free fishing gear?

Fishing for Life is determined to get it into the hands of children so they can hit the water. There is another one of the nonprofit's Rod Rebuilding giveaway events next week.

"We have a lot of horsepower, and we get right down to business," said Tom Goodrich, executive director of Fishing for Life, on the volunteers who repair and prepare rods and reels. "… We'll have easily accomplished about 1,300 rods and reels when all is said and done, and about 300 tackle boxes."

Free gear is fixed by volunteers and distributed to anyone who wants to get children out to fish. The next event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Gander Mountain in Eden Prairie. The final Rod Rebuilding Day event is in July.

Goodrich said anyone in need of gear for groups of five to 10 or more should contact him at tom@fishingforlife.org or 612-987-5466, and the gear will be gathered and prepared for pickup Wednesday in Eden Prairie. Donations can be dropped off Wednesday, too, Goodrich said.

Find more information at fishingforlife.org.