Empty Stocking Fund: Comic Book Collectors Dig Deep For Annual Drawing

Article content

Ron Trailing still has the first comic book he bought.

Article content

“It was Silver Surfer No. 1. I was seven or eight years old,” said the 66-year-old collector. “I read a lot of comics. They’re on tote bags and boxes and walls.”

Article content

But his collection is more than just collecting trash. Each year, Rogers Sugar employees pull a few issues from his vast collection and offer them as prizes in his raffle at the company’s annual Christmas.

Raffles happened to start 30 years ago. Retired pipe fitter Mike Martin and welder Bryon Sinclair set up a Christmas tree at a waterfront oil refinery. They noticed that a colleague had taken a candy cane from the tree and left a donation.

With the company matching the funds, Martin and Sinclair donated the money to the state’s Empty Stocking Fund. It was a raffle with prizes. Now retired and in Ontario, Martin sends in a metal sculpture every year. Carpenter Bill Day, another retiree, provides furniture.

Article content

Funds raised from ticket sales will continue to go to the Empty Stocking Fund, where groups in the Lower Mainland help families in need of food and clothing.

Refinery Health and Safety Coordinator Lisa Harry said: “I think the year before last was similar.”

Harry describes himself as “Lariah”. The factory employs over 180 people, and everyone is involved, from the sales staff to the shipping people to the receiving people to the contractors.

“I won’t start bugging anyone until November 12th,” she said.

Clients offer gifts such as hockey tickets and hotel stays.

A raffle is held the weekend before Christmas using the names of the drums and spinning wheels. When all prizes are gone, everyone’s names are put back on the drum and a final draw is held to determine who receives the tax certificate.

Article content

Trailing, who also contributes comics to his company’s golf tournaments, displays them in the cafeteria year-round.

“I get a sense of what people here like,” he said. “A lot of them like Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men. Yo, take it and I’ll just replace it with another one.” ”

Some of his colleagues want the comic book for themselves.

“Over the years, I’ve given a lot to those who have built their own hideouts. Take an old comic from your collection, put it in a shadowbox frame, and start these guys.” And they will be back.”

Trayling credits John LeBlanc, owner of Comics Scene in Surrey, for his help. This year he gave us T-shirts, Pokemon and manga. ”

Article content

My favorite character is Spider-Man, and my favorite artists are Jack Kirby and Todd McFarlane. Trailing has also drawn and exhibited some of his manga-based work in the cafeteria.

Some of the comics he contributes are professionally graded, an expensive process that adds value.

“Sometimes I throw in something worth $100 or more,” he said. “I mean, I’m not going to take it. That’s what I like to do. I like to see people happy. There are a lot of people who are suffering.”

More news, less ads: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 a week, get unlimited add-on access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Subscribe now and support us: The Vancouver Sun |