Free tattoo time prize prompts Food Bank donations

A Calgary tattoo artist is offering his talent for a good cause this holiday season.

Mike Peace who owns the Parlour Tattoo Studiois giving people a draw ballot for free tattoo time for every donation he receives for the Veterans Food Bank.

He wasn't prepared for how popular the contest would be among his clients.

Maneuvering around stacks of canned foodand boxes of pasta in his living room, Peace says he's overwhelmed by his clients' generosity.

"The response has been crazy. I mean even other tattoo shops have been bringing stuff to me. It's really amazing," he said. "Some people would come in with like, three or four items and then this one guy comes in and he had 255 items with him."

Peace's tattoo shop has been open for a couple years. Since the recession, business has struggled, but thathasn't stopped him from wanting to give back.

"It was just engrained in me as a kid, better to give than to receive, the old adage, right? And you know I just feel like I need to help people," he said.

The contest runs until Dec. 17.

• MORE CALGARY NEWS|A Chrismoose Carol turns 20, reflects on past with an eye to the future
• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Giant tube park slides its way into Calgary