Scissors. Pocket knives. Lighters. Handcuffs. Screwdrivers. Butter knives. Matches. Corkscrews. Toy guns. What do these items have in common?
They’re all taken away from passengers by officials at the Calgary International Airport, but most people probably don’t know they are then sold at the very same airport they were seized from.
Martha Richardson is the manager of operations and says a group of volunteers conducts the auction every Tuesday.
“People get so excited to see what we have each week, and even line up and wait before we open” Richardson said.
Scissors, lighters and pocket knives are the biggest draws, often costing just a couple of dollars each. And $5 will get you a bag filled with about 40 lighters.
Richardson said the auction brings in just a couple hundred a week but the money goes towards local charities like Samaritan’s Purse.
Pastor Gordon Smith of the Aviation Interfaith Ministry said the surrendered items auction started after 9-11.
“We’re able to do a lot of good things with this, and sometimes we can help stranded passengers who really need the help,” Smith said.
Dozens of people line up in the morning to sift through the items, and as they say some people’s junk are another person’s gold.
Nancy Williams drove from Strathmore early Tuesday morning to get first dibs at the collection.
“My husband collects pocket knives so I come here once in a while to get him a few new ones. There is always so much to choose from, it’s really fun,” she said.
