During re-equips, Planet Fitness^® franchisees like to ensure that the fitness equipment they are getting rid of does not go to waste. In early 2026, United Fitness Partners helped share the love just in time for Galentine’s Day, as they donated 300 pieces of gym equipment to several nonprofit partners across Kansas City, Pennsylvania and West Virginia through its “Project Gearshift” initiative.

One of the many nonprofits UFP donated equipment to was the Shelter KC Women’s Center. The Shelter KC is a Kansas City, Missouri, shelter for those struggling with poverty and homelessness, and the women’s center operates under the umbrella of Shelter KC, providing recovery, housing and life skills for women in need.

The fitness equipment helped to give those at the women’s center a safe and affordable way to work out, allowing them to gain strength both physically and mentally. The generous donation helped strengthen PF^®’s ideology of creating “judgement free zones” for everyone to exercise. The fitness equipment came from UFP’s Warrensburg and Sedalia locations in Missouri.

UFP received a heartfelt handwritten thank-you letter from the shelter, showing how much of a difference the donated equipment made for shelter residents. It was a reminder that something as small as a fitness equipment donation can make a huge difference in the lives of another person.

“Project Gearshift wasn’t just about refreshing our clubs. It was about doing the right thing for our communities. Repurposing equipment to local partners helped expand access to fitness where it’s needed most. Everyone matters, and this is what that looks like in action,” said Cullen Barbato, CEO at United Fitness Partners.