Leduc memorabilia shop motivating people to donate to local food bank

A sports card and collectible shop is collecting food donations for the Leduc Food Bank by offering a pack of Pokemon or hockey cards.

A Leduc shop mostly known for selling sports cards and collectibles is running out of room as food donations fill up its store.

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The Hobby Spot & QCB is in its fifth year collecting canned, dry goods and cash to make Christmas brighter for others. As of Monday, the business has already collected around 12,000 items and wants to increase that to 20,000 by the end of the week.

Donations will be going to the Leduc and District Food Bank.

Every person who donates on Saturday will receive a pack of Pokemon or hockey cards.

“Someone came in on Saturday and donated 100 food bank items and they got some packs of Pokemon and they opened the pack and hit the big chase card worth $800” said Luke Crisby, owner of The Hobby Spot.

“Someone came in and got a $800 card for doing the right thing and that helps fuel the stories as well as helps get people to the shop.”

Crisby says the first year he opened the shop he wanted to do something interactive with the community to bring awareness to his store.

He grew up in Fort McMurray and says the church he attended helped families with food donations - since then he’s been waiting to also carry on that tradition.

“That was a really special experience and kind of resonated with my mind as I got older and we’re just thankful to be in a position like this to do this every year,” Crisby said.

Crisby says he’s been in contact with the local food bank and the need has especially grown this year.

“It makes what we’re doing that much more important and that much more critical to Leduc specifically,” he said.

Last year, an anonymous donor helped the store reach its $50,000 goal. More than 4,700 kilograms of food was dropped off.