Dorri Partain
Contributor

Bargain hunters will have a new venue as Northeast gains its first ever swap-and-shop event, coming in July.

Organized by Northeast resident Donna Crain, the event is now scheduling vendors for Saturday, July 17 and August 21 on a first come first served basis, though the preference is for Northeast residents to be the primary vendors.

As Crain explained, “We’ve been vendors out at the 63rd Street (Drive-In) Swap-and-Shop and thought why couldn’t we do the same at a parking lot here in Northeast?”

Crain met with the pastor and board members at Independence Boulevard Christian Church (IBCC), 606 Gladstone Blvd., which had been the site for the Northeast Farmer’s Market a few years ago, and the location was approved on a trial basis for the third Saturdays in July and August. Dates in September and October may be approved if the first two swap meets are successful.

To cover the cost of using the church’s parking lot, vendors will pay a $5.00 fee for a space two cars wide. Vendors will have to provide their own chairs, tables and tents. In turn, shoppers will pay a 50 cent entrance fee. While not technically a fundraiser for the church, fees from the vendors and shoppers will be collected by Crain, then donated to the church.

Mindy Fugarino, pastor at IBCC, said the funds donated through the swap-and-shop event will be used to enhance the ventilation of the church’s fellowship hall, which has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic. While the church’s Micah Ministries program has been able to continue to offer meals, it’s been a to-go operation due to the ventilation issues.

“We would love to get back to doing in-person meals and these funds generated through the swap-and-shop will help. And it’s another avenue for people to make extra money, so I think it’s beneficial for everyone,” Fugarino said.

The Northeast Swap and Shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for shoppers. Anyone interested in vendor spaces may contact Crain at 816-231-7110.