(Photo by Gwen Sour) Attendees browse the aisles for deals at the Washington County Fairgrounds during Mommy Mart on Saturday.

Hundreds of families browsed racks of children’s clothing, toys and baby gear this weekend as the semiannual Mommy Mart consignment sale returned to the Washington County Fairgrounds, bringing together local parents looking to buy and sell gently used items.

Molly Floding, founder of Mommy Mart, said the event features items from local mothers whose children have outgrown clothing, toys and other necessities.

“We have 300 local moms who have put items in that their children have outgrown,” Floding said. “We started with 30,000 items, and the consigners tag their items, drop them off, and we sell them over one weekend.”

Floding said the event has seen significant participation from the community, with more than 1,000 transactions recorded during the sale.

The idea for Mommy Mart began before Floding moved to the Mid-Ohio Valley. Originally from north Alabama, she said she participated in similar consignment sales when her own children were young.

(File Photo) Shoppers and goods are seen at the My Mommy Mart weekend event in March of 2025.

“I was able to do this with my kids when they were little, and I was still living in Alabama,” Floding said. “I moved here when my daughter was just about three years old. We moved in August, and started the first sale in September. I had 26 people that I begged to take a chance on me.”

Since that first sale, the event has grown steadily. Floding said participation has expanded to the point where consigners must now be capped at 300, with a waiting list for future events.

Organizers say the event has also become a way for parents to connect with one another.

“It brings together — not only does it help the community — but we’ve created a community here for moms,” said Katie Thaxton, who assists with press releases for the event. “They can consign, shop, participate, and it gives them an outlet. They get to get out of the house and see their friends.”

In addition to helping families save money on children’s items, the event also supports local causes. Floding said proceeds from some ticket sales benefit GoPacks, a program within Marietta City Schools that provides food for students experiencing food insecurity.

Mommy Mart also supports organizations such as Gabriel’s Closet and is collecting donations during the event to help a local family whose daughter is undergoing cancer treatment. Shoppers were invited to round their purchases up to the nearest dollar, with the extra funds going to the family.

Community organizations also attended the event to share resources with families. Nichole Boone, ERSEA specialist with Community Action Head Start and Early Head Start, said their program provides free preschool services for children from birth to age five across Washington and Morgan counties.

“We are here offering the resources of a free preschool program,” Boone said. “We serve families that are birth to five.”

For shoppers like Emily Wise, the sale provides an opportunity to find affordable items.

“I just came to find cheaper items,” Wise said. “Used is so much cheaper.”

Floding said the event continues to grow thanks to the participation of local families who see it as both a practical resource and a community gathering.

“It helps the community, and it brings moms together,” she said.