Poppin' Tags Free Store in West Deer to hold Christmas in July event

Christmas is coming early to West Deer — really early — with the Poppin’ Tags Free Store’s Christmas in July event.

A large selection of Christmas items will be free to pick up Monday, July 25. Customers will be able to choose from lights, figurines and other holiday decorations. Larger Christmas items, such as artificial trees, will be sold through a Chinese auction.

The event is a part of the store’s fundraising efforts to help pay for the cost of utilities and rent.

Owner Sonya Dembowski opened the Free Store in 2019 at 756 Little Deer Creek Valley Road.

The store acts as a community outreach, offering customers in need an array of free items from clothing to home goods. Dembowski said about 20 people a day frequent the place.

The idea stemmed from her job cleaning for a living. She would take items that clients no longer needed and would donate the items to men coming out of rehab.

The store also partners with organizations throughout the area, such as the Russellton Food Bank and North Hills Community Outreach.

“The store gives them a new purpose,” Dembowski said. “For us to be able to help others struggle a little bit less is a good feeling. It is a good feeling to help that stress level.”

Dembowski said the store receives an overwhelming amount of holiday items almost every day. Three Christmas trees are donated a week, she said.

Volunteer and coordinator Cheryl McCaffrey said the store has been looking for ways to raise funds each month.

She said this is the first time the store has held a Christmas in July event. The store has been stockpiling Christmas items for the event for six months, McCaffrey said.

“It helps people who may not be able to afford decorations,” she said.

McCaffrey said the store does not have a fundraising goal in mind, but every little bit counts.

“This is really to help the community and help us, too,” she said.