Holiday pop-up shop will spread cheer

EASTPOINTE — One local couple is playing Santa Claus this Christmas and several volunteers have already stepped up to be elves.

Tim Kniaz and Nick Gevedon have organized the FreeStore Holiday Pop-Up Shop, which will provide gently used toys and clothing at no cost to families. The idea is to alleviate the financial burden of holiday shopping by offering the items free of charge.

The shop will open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9-10 at a building space located at 21339 Gratiot Ave., located next to the Villa Restaurant. Shoppers can pick out items during those times, and organizers will be on hand to wrap them in holiday paper to be ready Christmas morning.

“Anybody can show up,” Kniaz said. “We’re not checking proof of income.”

So far, Kniaz has received donations of gently used toys, books, games, school supplies, coats, ornaments and clothing for children of all ages, including teens. Shoes, stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars and board games are welcome as well. Also needed are donations of wrapping paper, bows, ribbons and gift bags. Volunteers looking to participate can help sanitize toys, set up the shop or wrap gifts.

“Everyone in the community has been donating stuff and playing their part,” Kniaz said. “Growing up and not having much money myself, I know how the holidays hit you. People who don’t have much help people who don’t have much.”

Eastpointe resident John Hofmann, who is the founder of the company Fusion Marketing, is one of the local business owners helping spread the word of the holiday shop.

“This is a way to help my neighbor. It’s been very well received. We seem to have gotten a lot of people involved,” Hofmann said. “It’s really exciting to see the response of the community.”

Kniaz is still accepting donations. At press time, the gently used items can be dropped off at three locations: Eternal Tattoos Inc. at 24834 Gratiot Ave.; the Eastpointe Memorial Library at 15875 Oak Ave.; and the EP FreeStore, which is on Bell Avenue, across the street from Bellview Elementary School. The EP FreeStore — which works like a stand-alone lending library — is an outdoor lot in which people can drop off items and take items. As more drop-off locations are confirmed, they will be posted at www.facebook.com/EPFreeStore.

Gift cards that haven’t been used and even cards that have been partially used also are wanted. Monetary donations also are welcome to purchase wrapping paper and lunch for the volunteers.

To sign up to volunteer, send an email to Epfreestore@gmail.com.