photo by: Joselyn King

Members of Scouting America Troop 6000 gather outside EandK Sports Cards in Moundsville to promote their upcoming sports card and memorabilia show at Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church in Wheeling on Feb. 22. Pictured from left are Scout master Colleen Weekley, Caleigh Clemons and Abigail Weekley. In back are Zoey Brady, Zoey Knight, Emma Weekley, Taviah Pettry and Eric Hill, owner of EandK Sportscards.

Scouting and sports-card collecting interests are about to intersect when Scouting America Troop 6000 hosts an upcoming card and memorabilia show in Wheeling.

All 35 vendor tables have been sold out for the event, which is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22 at Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church, 905 National Road, Wheeling.

Admission is $5, and a portion of the profits will benefit the Vance Church food pantry. Children under age 12 will be admitted for free, and concessions will be available.

Troop 6000 is an all-girl troop who meets on Tuesday nights at Vance Church. Members must be in at least fifth grade and under the age of 17 to join the troop, which currently has eight members.

“I’m a big card collector myself, and we try to think outside the box when it comes to fundraisers,” explained Gary Weekley, committee chair for the fundraiser. “There are a lot of card shows in the Ohio Valley, but we haven’t had anything around here in a long time. We’ve had a few small ones around here, but nothing really big.

“We’re just trying to take advantage that cards are really hot right now, and we really want to make money now.”

Pokemon cards are “really hot” and sometimes can’t even be found in stores, Weekley said.

A lot of the football, quarterback and rookie cards also are in demand, he continued.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard of the (Pirates rookie) Paul Skenes card. The Pirates made that card a $1 million card,” Weekley explained. “It’s a passion for me. So I incorporated with the troop to raise money.”

There also is a collection merit badge scouts can earn if they collect such items as sports cards or coins Weekley hopes to incorporate with the event.

“In the future, we’re hoping to make it bigger — maybe not just cards,” he said.

Scout patches, coins and Hot Wheels cars are some of the ideas Weekley has for future collectors events sponsored by the scouts.

The goal for the upcoming sports card show is to raise at least $1,000 to help pay for the girls’ scouting trip this summer. They will be attending the Fort Steubenville Experience in Tippecanoe.

Weekley credited the EandK Sportscards shop in Moundsville for greatly assisting the scouts with the sports card show. The shop was instrumental in selling out all 35 vendor tables for the event.

Tastin’ w/ Dasyn catering is providing the food for the show, while Tito’s Sloppy Dogs is donating the hot dog sauce.

There will be door prizes and giveaways, and members of the Wheeling Miners will be present to sign autographs.