Faces of Main Street – Deb Brown & Sarah Bennett

Heart and Purpose at What Goes ‘Round

Deb Brown (left) and Sarah Bennett (right)

Step into What Goes ‘Round Thrift Shoppe at 115 N. Main Street and you’ll likely be greeted by one of the store’s many dedicated volunteers, all working under the guidance of longtime manager Deb Brown and her assistant Sarah Bennett. Together, Deb and Sarah have helped shape the shop into one of Mansfield’s best places to go hunting for second-hand treasures.

Twelve years ago, Deb first walked through the doors of the thrift shop at the suggestion of a friend from her garden club. “I had never even been in a thrift shop before,” she laughs. “But the manager at the time gave me a quick tour, and the next thing I knew, I was volunteering.” Within a year, Deb was asked to manage the shop herself and she’s been leading the way ever since.

Around the same time, Sarah also came in to browse and never left. “I went through a season where I was volunteering in a lot of places,” Sarah says. “I came in to shop, got shown around, and soon I was helping out. When the manager left, Deb stepped up, and I stayed on as her assistant.”

The shop has grown from just two folding tables into a major operation fully stocked with clothing, jewelry, home goods, furniture, décor, books, and so much more. “About 95 percent of our team is volunteer-based,” Deb says. “We usually have a dozen or more people here every day.” Their work supports Hospice of the Western Reserve, a nonprofit providing end-of-life care and grief support across the region.

Deb is quick to point out the importance of the nonprofit model. “There are a lot of hospices out there, but not all of them are nonprofit. Because we are, we’re able to offer programs like Camp Hope, which brings together children who have had someone pass in their family to give them a space to talk and share their stories.

Sarah adds, “The word ‘hospice’ means something powerful to families who’ve been through it. There’s a bond and a shared understanding.”

While construction is underway along Main Street, it hasn’t slowed the momentum. Shoppers and donors are still frequenting the store. “People always find us,” Deb says. “They mention the work happening out there, but they still come in to shop or donate.”

Both women are excited about the improvements. “Downtown is going to feel like a neighborhood again,” Sarah says. “It’s going to be walkable and welcoming, and I think people will want to come down just to be a part of it.”

Deb agrees. “The lighting, the sidewalks, the space—it’s going to feel like a place people want to gather. And I think that will open the door for even more businesses to set up shop.”

For Deb and Sarah, What Goes ‘Round isn’t just a store. It’s a mission, a community, and a place to bring a little light and comfort into people’s lives, one donated treasure at a time.