Mom2Mom Sale Benefits Berkley Building Blocks Program

Moms, dads, expectant mothers and grandmas came out Saturday to shop the third annual Mom2Mom sale at the Berkley High School gymnasium.

Profits from the sale will be donated to the Berkley School District Building Blocks early childhood education program to purchase new equipment at the Tyndall and Avery centers.

“Our target is $3,000,” said Building Blocks PTA member Sherril Whitmore, who organized the event with fellow PTA member, Lena Nemeth.

Whitmore said the sale gets bigger each year.

“We always support our community first before going anywhere else,” Berkley resident Michelle Dzendzel said.

Dzendzel – who shopped with her pregnant daughter, Shelly Leland – was eagerly equipping her house for her first grandchild. However, baby shopping was more overwhelming for Leland, who is five months pregnant.

“I don’t know the lingo for this stuff yet,” she said.

Since Leland does not know the sex of her baby yet, she picked up a bouncer seat.

“All I know is it vibrates,” Leland joked.

The sale also brought out veteran mom-to-mom shoppers such as Tracy Edson and her daughters Eva, 3, and Chloe, 2.

“We hit (the sales) all the time,” Edson said.

Eva likes to look at the dresses, and Chloe likes the toys, she said.

Sara Smith of Royal Oak and her daughter Emma, 4, enjoy mom-to-mom sales to save money and as a purchasing lesson.

“She (Emma) takes money from her piggy bank and can shop for herself,” Smith said.

Emma purchased a Little People’s Doggie Salon.

Other women took it as an opportunity for some girl time away from their kids.

Anna Zywicki of Clarkston and Nicole Szatkowski of Canton met up to shop then headed to lunch at Red Coat Tavern in Royal Oak. Szatkowski is a pro at finding bargains during mom-to-mom sales. She helped soon-to-be-mom Zywicki find treasures including dresses and a Bumbo seat, which supports a child in an upright position so they won't topple backward.

“For 20 bucks, I got over a $100 worth of stuff,” Zywicki beamed.

With 68 vendors participating, customers had plenty of gently used toys, clothes and baby equipment to peruse.

Like most mom-to-mom sales, a limited number of businesses sold children’s crafts and toys.

It was aspiring artist Lindsay Granata of Royal Oak's first time showcasing her handmade hair accessories decorated with colorful flowers and ribbons. Granata said she was pleasantly surprised by the large crowd, as well as her sales. Her adult line, lulubelle, can be seen at Tootie and Tallulah’s in Berkley.

Other vendors were inspired to join the fundraiser as a means to spring clean their homes. Berkley resident Robinn Manista found the mom-to-mom sale to be an easy way to unload.

“I needed space in my home,” said Manista, whose children are 6 and 4 years old. “I hung onto everything until I knew we were done.”

Dawn Guevara of Warren said she participates in mom-to-mom sales about three times per year and welcomes the opportunity to pass on her daughter’s toys and clothes in a green way.

“We are very fortunate, so I want to help other families who aren’t as fortunate,” Guevara said. “To be able to buy a dress for a dollar is helpful for many families.”