The time-honoured hobby – and expertise – of stamp collecting is having a significant impact on local fundraising, thanks to the Peace Arch Stamp Club.

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On July 30, Peace Arch Hospital Foundation was presented with a cheque for $4,900 by members of the club executive, including president Stephen Melanson, past-president Terry Leishman and director Jim Mason.

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A group of stamp collectors who get together once a month (except July and August), the club provides an opportunity to buy, sell and trade stamps and also participate in a monthly live auction.

The most recent donation – earmarked for a new production kitchen in the hospital – was in memory of Terry's late wife, longtime club member Doreen Leishman.

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Doreen, who passed away some four years ago, was responsible for the club's auction-recording program.

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"Terry and Doreen brought the club to being a very interesting and vibrant organization," Melanson told Peace Arch News.

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He noted the donation brought the amount of money donated by the club to local charities over the past 14 years to $40,000.

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"These monies came from the sale of collections donated (to the club) by the general public after being made aware of our activities," Melanson said.

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"Somebody will drop off a little bag of stamps to us and we'll sort them and put them in our monthly auction. Over the years, we've raised a lot of money that way. And sometimes we've had big collections donated to us, some of them valued up to thousands of dollars.

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"Last year we donated $1,000 to Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, $1,000 to Peace Arch Hospice, $1,000 to the Sources Food Bank and $500 to Brella," he said.

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In previous years the club has also donated to help with humanitarian aid following wildfires in East Lytton and in Northern Alberta, Melanson recalled.

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"We're proud of what we're doing. No-one else (in the stamp-collecting community), across Canada, is doing this."

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Melanson said the club does not buy collections, but will offer free appraisals and provide suggestions in their disposal.

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"I feel that our club fills a void in this area, especially when it comes to our senior population. A lot of seniors are sitting around with stamp collections and no idea what to do with them.

"We've left people with tears in their eyes because Grandpa's stamps – instead of being thrown in the garbage – have gone to help with a lot of good causes." 

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Melanson said the club keeps in touch with a lot of other stamp organizations to attract collectors to the monthly sales.

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The only downside, he said, is that – in common with other stamp clubs across the country – the membership is aging, and finding difficulty attracting younger members.

"If we had a way of putting stamps online or on cellphones it would be a different story – but we can't," he said.

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"We're getting some younger people, around 35 and 40, but anyone younger than that, it doesn't seem there's a chance." 

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The Peace Arch Stamp Club meets the first Wednesday of each month (except July and August) – at the Brella Community Services facility, at 15008 26 Ave.

Meetings are from 4-7:30 p.m.

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"We provide a warm and welcoming greeting to all visitors," Melanson said.

"And with a membership of 72, we have a good mix of ladies and gentlemen."

For more information on the club and meetings, call Melanson at (604) 531-6041.