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Moms find bargains at baby boutique
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Grandma Patty Lloyd (right) did some shopping for clothes and toys for 9-month-old Allison Lee.
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While mom Amanda Day manned her sales station, 1-year-old Zion Day played with toys and helped with sales by being cute.
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Future grandma Debbie Dobozy (left) went shopping with her daughter Jaime Whener, who is expecting her first baby.
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The Kettler sales team spanned three generations. They were, from left, grandma Joanne Jopek, her granddaughter, Kali Kettler, and daughter Lisa Kettler.
By SARAH FOOR
Anyone with a baby or a toddler can agree that the little ones can amass a surprising amount of toys, books and clothes in a short time. On May 21, Boardman Park offered local families the chance to whittle down their collections at the Baby Bargain Boutique.
A mom herself, park activity director Karen McCallum found a similar boutique near Columbus, and used it as inspiration to start the Valley’s own version seven years ago.
“For moms-to-be and moms with toddlers, they can find things they need at a real bargain price. Our 60 vendors, who are mostly moms themselves, sell for their own profit. At the end of the day, the vendors donate many remaining goods to the Pregnancy Help Center of the Mahoning Valley. In that way, it offers a little something to everyone,” McCallum noted.
The hundreds of guests, it seems, were all in different stages of their parenthood.
“This is my first baby, so we’re looking for it all. We’re definitely preparing for everything,” said Jaime Whener.
Toddler Daniel Milush shopped with his mom, Melissa, who has another boy on the way.
“I’m reusing Daniel’s stuff for his new younger brother, but today is about getting all of the toddler stuff Daniel needs. Booster seats, potties, and clothes — always clothes.” Melissa Milush explained.
Vendor Lisa Kettler had a great sales team in mom, Joanne Jopek and 10-month-old daughter, Kali Kettler.
“All the money I raise today will go toward buying Kali more stuff, of course,” Kettler said with a laugh.