Newton Falls, Ohio has a great history of helping one another. This reporter has covered fundraisers and benefits ranging from Bar Crawls to Duck Sponsorships, helping veterans to making Christmas special for those in need. One can’t talk about the charity of Newton Falls without mentioning the Church Mouse.
Located in historic downtown Newton Falls, it has an historic beginning. Many residents remember Friday, May 31, 1985, the day of the tornado. Going right through downtown, the powerful F5 tornado decimated much of Broad and Canal Streets. Though over 40 twisters and tornadoes were spotted that day and 88 people were killed across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario, no one in Newton Falls lost their lives. From this wreckage, the Church Mouse was born.
The Newton Falls Church Mouse Thrift Shop is located at 26 ½ West Broad St. As you walk in, you will find it full of treasures for the thrift shopper. Baskets, clothes, dishes, electronics, games, you name it-it’s likely there. Or will show up sometime very soon! The shop is run by the multi-denominational Newton Falls Ministerial Association and staffed mostly by volunteers. Bev Connell and Betty Boroch are the store managers; Rick Braun is the Treasurer. Volunteers come in on a rotating basis.
One volunteer remembers, a few days following the tornado, an 18-wheeler pulled up on Broad Street, filled with donations from a caring country. Chaos, the good kind, followed as volunteers tried to get the donations where they were most needed. Not just that truck, but many followed. The Ministerial Association had to find an empty lot for trucks to unload. That unloading was done mostly by lady volunteers.
By that September, the owners needed the empty lot, so the search was on. They found the current location, owned by the Talenka family, formerly the Nichol’s 5 and Dime. The volunteers were able to use that to continue giving away the donations. Many of the fixtures were still there, and in use today. But soon something amazing happened, local people started giving donations, too. They began to charge, but only enough to pay the rent.
At first, they only rented one half of the old store, but they added the second side about 15 years ago. There is also an apartment upstairs that is used for seasonal storage. There are now likely ten times the number of donations being made. A workroom has been carved out of one side for the volunteers to sort. They keep the ethos of selling to the community but using the money for community needs. There is a food pantry on premises serving the food insecure.
In addition to the two managers, Bev and Betty, there is Allison Laney from Job and Family Services. All the others are volunteers. Rick would come in occasionally to make shelves. When he retired in 2009, he was motivated to do more. (He says his wife motivated him…) Some volunteers come in one day a week, others more frequently. On hand when this reporter visited were Buck, Mary Lou, Lisa and Art. They were all quite busy, handling the sales floor, sorting the goods, running the register and stocking shelves. Many thanks to you all!
Rick says the need is great, even more now than pre-covid. To this end, Newton Falls has its own Salvation Army unit, though most are county wide. The service unit is maintained to help with food, medications, etc, contact Tony at (216) 225-8987.
Store hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. The Church Mouse also participates in the monthly Late Night in the Falls. Donations are accepted, around back, from 10:00am to 2:00pm on their open days.
The food pantry, Second Harvest, also accepts community donations of unexpired, shelf-stable food items as well as personal items such as soaps, shampoos and oral care. Their hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday between 10:00am and 12:00 pm. They ask that you call ahead so they can have it ready for you.
They change out the shelves on a seasonal basis. Ethel was in during one of those change overs. The store often has specials during this time, and Ethel was a happy shopper that day! It was a bag sale…and speaking of sales…
The 40th anniversary of their opening is this week, starting on October 1. They will have sales to celebrate that event. I’m going back, won’t you join me? Bring your checkbook or cash as they keep costs down by not accepting credit cards. Visit the Facebook page at Newton Falls Church Mouse Thrift Shoppe, call (330) 872-5574, or email churchmouse@gmail.com.
