NM Coin-Stamp & Collectible Expo tackles local food insecurity while bringing community together

When his brother died, John Krist wanted to do something more than selling the collectibles and items that were left filling his home and garage.

That’s when Krist’s friend, Alina Rodriguez, suggested they instead host a food drive where attendees bring donations in exchange for a variety of collectibles and items.

“I could’ve sold all the cards and stuff like that, but that ain’t going to help the community,” Krist said. “But the food drive helps, then it helps younger kids get involved in a hobby.”

Krist has organized and put on the New Mexico Coin-Stamp & Collectible Expo twice a year since the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance has effectively doubled from 500 then to over 1,000 now, he said, and they’ve collected over 4,000 donations to date.

Held Friday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Albuquerque Midtown, participants will receive a collectible for every donation they bring, up to 25 items. Donations will go to local food pantries and churches. Admission is $5 daily, or $10 for entry all weekend, and attendees will receive a coupon at the door to be entered in an hourly raffle drawing for prizes.

Children can collect free tokens at tables and through dealers to then spend at the Kid’s Zone for playing games, he said.

A collector himself, Krist said his favorite part about it is being able to “touch history.”

“If you have a Roman coin, you have something that was touched by Roman people 2,000 years ago, so that’s fun,” he said. “There’s all kinds of collectibles at the show. There’s newspapers, magazines, postcards, dolls — pretty much anything.”

Krist said dealers helping run the expo come from California, New York, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Minnesota — ensuring a wide variety of items. Attendees can expect collectibles spanning comics, maps, artwork, jewelry, memorabilia, artifacts, minerals and beyond.

Acknowledging how cutthroat some collectors and shows can be, Krist said theirs is nothing of the sort. He looks forward to seeing families and communities connect over shared interests, or even pick up a hobby they hadn’t before.

NM Coin-Stamp & Collectible Expo tackles local food insecurity while bringing community together