In its first few weeks of business, a new store in Gardendale is giving back.

Tim and Christal Kulungian, who own the Pottery Playhouse, have collected at least 1,000 toys including crayons, coloring books and stuffed animals, as well as almost 100 coats.

The Kulungian family on both Tim and Christal’s side donated the items. The store will be giving away the toys and coats to families in need in December, at a date to be announced later.

“Our family does this every year,” said Christal Kulungian. She formerly owned a daycare in Hayden, but had to close it when her daughter, Lilly Belle, was born with a disease that ultimately caused the child to become blind. Lilly Belle, who is 3, was the first person in Alabama to be diagnosed with malignant infantile osteopetrosis.

This week, there is also a special at Pottery Playhouse that donates to a foundation named after Lilly Belle.

Lilly Belle received a bone marrow transplant when she was 4 months old from her sister Delilah, who is now 7 years old. Lilly Belle no longer has symptoms of the disease, but Kulungian said it could return.

Even though she was blind, the Kulungians wanted Lilly Belle to learn to read.

“We introduced her to Braille books, just like you would give books to a regular toddler,” said Christal Kulungian. “We’ve found out that a lot of parents don’t introduce their blind children to books.”

Perhaps one reason is that Braille books can be difficult to find, according to Kulungian. Most book stores do not carry them. There are government programs that loan Braille books, but they must be returned.

“It’s really not fair that blind children don’t have access to books in book stores,” said Kulungian. “My little girl loves books. That’s her absolute favorite thing, is books.”

To help other families, the Kulungians started the Lilly Belle Braille Book Foundation in July 2010. The foundation helps provide Braille books for families that can not afford them. It also educates families on the importance of teaching blind children to read.

Through Saturday, the Pottery Playhouse is giving 10 percent of its proceeds to the Lilly Belle Braille Book Foundation.

Kulungian said she opened a pottery business after first working with a friend in a similar business. She said making and painting pottery is a good way for families to spend time together.

Lilly Belle likes to make and paint pottery; Kulungian said she makes “puffy” paint that her daughter can feel and apply to the pottery.

The Pottery Playhouse is located in The Garden Shopping Center at 1214-B Main Street in Gardendale. To learn more, call the store at 631-0306.