The donation to attend yesterday’s Hoops 4 Hope basketball clinic in East Hampton was unusual. You could give $20. But better, you could give up a pair of your used sneakers.

Founded 10 years ago, Hoops 4 Hope donates sneakers, old uniforms and basketballs to Zimbabwe and other impoverished African countries.

East Hampton native Mark Crandall was a foreign exchange student in Zimbabwe’s Prince Edward H.S. in the late 1980s – the only white player in the league. He was struck by the conditions. “You have kids playing basketball not wearing sneakers,” Crandall said.

Not to mention uniforms. Crandall, 35, has gotten various Long Island high schools to donate their old ones. “Here, they wear them five years and it gets stuck in the athletic room,” Crandall said. “But basketballs they use forever here. That’s the toughest to find.”

Larry Brown, Doc Rivers and Paul Westphal ran the clinic yesterday. High schools looking to donate equipment can call Hoops 4 Hope at (631) 267-8682.