OUR STORY

How did My Mommy Mart begin?

In 2009, we lived in Alabama about 5 minutes from where I grew up. My husband had just recently lost his job and wasn’t having any luck with finding a new position. At the same time, we had been talking about how we weren’t the only ones trying to make ends meet while raising our kids. I had been shopping local yard sales and consignment shops to make sure our kids had the things we needed and wanted. Jason had lived in the Mid-Ohio Valley all of his life until college, and his parents were still in the area, so we took a chance at starting a new venture. We moved from Green Hill, Alabama, to Williamstown, WV, in August of 2009. My son started kindergarten, and my daughter was just a toddler.

Our first event was in September 2009 in the same fair building we still use today. We had begged everyone we knew to consign their stuff, and even then, we had only 26 consignors. Back then, we tried to arrange the racks so it looked like we were filling up more than 1/4 of the building. Let me tell you about those first consignors and helpers - they showed up and put in so much hard work. Their belief in us is what kept us going in those first years.

Now we have to limit the number of consignors to about 300, and even then, we have a waitlist. Some moms from our first sales are starting to buy for their grandkids. We have been able to donate to several local charities, families, and schools in the Mid-Ohio Valley region. Some of the local organizations we have donated to include GoPacks for Kids, the Gabriel Project, Williamstown Bee Bags, the Warren PTA, the Parkersburg Art Center, and many more. I won’t name the families, but ask around, and you will find out just how much moms are willing to give back to our community.

Over the years, I met some of my best friends through My Mommy Mart. The helpers and consignors were there for my family and me when my kids’ dad, Jason, passed away from complications from COVID during the middle of one of the events. I can still remember getting that call about 15 minutes before the doors opened for the Sneak Peek Sale. I don’t remember much after that, but I can never begin to thank everyone enough for pulling me through.

Now, over 16 years after My Mommy Mart began, I have an adult son with too many cars and my girl is now in college at WVU. We all have Big Nate (my husband), who is always the one who keeps me calm when computers aren’t connecting. He is also amazing at putting together & breaking down baby equipment - even though he never experienced having babies or toddlers at home.

There is no better group of people than the ones involved with My Mommy Mart. This is a group of people who have found connections within their community and saved a few bucks along the way.

Thank you for being part of our family,

Molly