KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An Overland Park comic book store has put out the call for heroes to step up during the holiday season.
Elite Comics is in the closing stretch of a fundraising campaign to buy toys for families at Children’s Mercy Hospital this holiday season.
“This is just part of our job of being a decent human being in the world," Elite Comics owner William Binderup said. "You do good in the world."
Binderup has spearheaded the fundraiser for the past seven years. A week or so before Christmas, he and other volunteers dress up as super heroes and shop for the toys.
“Usually, we have about 20 to 30 people dressed as super heroes and we go to Target and spend $25,000 on toys," he said. "Usually, it’s like 40 shopping carts full."
This year, the store hopes to raise $28,000, which would be $1,000 for every year the store has been open.
The presents go to Children’s Mercy Hospital’s “Snowflake Shoppe.”
Families with children in the hospital over Christmas get to choose a free present. The goal is to provide some normalcy for families stuck in the hospital setting over Christmas while also reducing the financial stresses of the holidays.
Elite Comics is accepting donations in person at the store, located at 11842 Quivira Road, Suite 1300 in Overland Park.
The store also will host a two-week long sale and fundraiser beginning on Black Friday, Nov. 27, and continuing through Thursday, Dec. 10.
