NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - The Church Mouse Thrift Shoppe is celebrating 40 years of giving back to Newton Falls.

The volunteer-run shop opened back in 1985 after a tornado hit the city. As truckloads of donated food, materials and clothes came in, aid trucks needed a place to set up and the Ministerial Association was tasked with taking over the distribution. Since then, the thrift shop has been taking in donated items from community members, running as a storefront, food pantry and community donor.

"For 40 years we've been repurposing many donated items," Rick Braun, the shop's treasurer, told 21 News.

Two of the pastors who were members of the Newton Falls Ministerial Association when it started in 1983 and have seen Church Mouse grow from its humble beginnings were also in attendance to

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