Morrisville resident Mel Kulenski, a dedicated social worker and foster parent, made the difficult decision to sell her cherished Pokémon collection to fund renovations for her inherited childhood home, writes Laura Hoover for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The sale fetched over $10,000, thanks to a rare, first-edition Charizard card. 

Mel, a Pokémon fan since the mid-1990s, impressed an auctioneer from Tom Hall Auctions Inc. in Schwenksville with her collection, described as the best he had seen in a decade. 

Mel and her wife, Rel, intend to use the proceeds to transform the house into a welcoming space for their foster teens. 

The Kulenskis, who moved from a small apartment in Bensalem to the spacious family home, have already invested significantly in its restoration. 

Mel inherited the home after both of her parents passed away.  

Her father’s legacy permeates their home through his painted furniture, handcrafted wooden coffee table, stained glass art, a towering tree he planted decades ago, and the pergola he built, under which Mel and Rel were married.  

The couple launched a GoFundMe page to supplement the approximately $7,000 earned from Pokémon sales, aiming to reach the estimated $50,000 to $60,000 needed for their project. 

Read more about the Morrisville couple and their dedication to helping foster kids in The Philadelphia Inquirer.  

Fabulous Pokemon Collection coming up for Auction