09/02/2026
In Loving Memory of Debbie Mitchell
This is Karen writing this personally on behalf of all of us at Brysonn's Closet.
Debbie was the very first volunteer Brysonnâs Closet ever had. In fact, she was with us before there even was a Brysonnâs Closet store.
In the early days, we didnât have much. We had donations, a desire to help people, and a whole lot of work that needed to be done. Debbie spent countless hours going through bags and boxes of donations, sorting everything and reading those tiny tags so she could size the clothes. She worked right alongside me until her vision eventually made it too difficult for her to read those tags anymore.
And when I say she worked, she worked.
There were nights we stayed up until the early hours of the morning because people were depending on us and we needed to be ready to serve them. I could call Debbie day or night and, if I needed help, she would be there.
She used her own gas to pick up donations. When we had som**hing too big for our vehicles, she would borrow her husbandâs truck. I don't think Rick had much of a choice. She never received a dime for anything she did. She didnât do it for recognition, money, or praise.
She did it because she truly loved Brysonnâs Closet and the people we were trying to help.
I can say without hesitation that we do not know how Brysonnâs Closet would have survived that first year and a half without Debbie. When we look at what this ministry has become today, we know that part of its foundation was built by a woman who quietly gave her time, her gas, her strength, and her heart when there was very little to show for it.
Debbie was also there for some of the adventures from those early days. đ And there is one story I have to tell, because even though my heart hurts today, remembering it still makes me laugh.
Back then, Debbie and I were not above dumpster diving. We didn't care what anybody thought about us. If perfectly usable things were being thrown away while people in our community needed them, we were going after them. That belief is still part of Brysonnâs Closet today. It is one of the reasons we put free carts outside every day. If somebody can use som**hing, we would rather give it away than see it thrown in the trash.
Well, one night Debbie and I hit the jackpotâor at least we thought we had. đ
We found a large amount of Sudafed and some cute little glass things that Debbie was convinced were vases. I told her I didnât think they were vases, but I had no idea what they were either. We were both pretty naive and innocent about things like that.
So there we were, loading everything into the vehicle, excited because we had found sinus medicine we could give to people who needed it, along with Debbieâs mysterious little âvases.â
Then a spotlight hit us.
A police officer had pulled up because someone had reported us. A few minutes later, another officer arrived. They asked what we were doing, and of course we told them the truth. And Debbieâbless her heartâwas happy to tell the police officers about the cute little vases she had found. đ
They asked if they could search our vehicle, and we had absolutely no problem with it.
By the time they finished, the police had confiscated all of our Sudafed and Debbieâs cute little vases.
It turns out those were NOT vases.
They were used to smoke m**h.
The officers told us that what we had stumbled across was worth a few thousand dollars on the street and that we had apparently interrupted a âdrop.â They suspected the person who reported us may very well have been the person who was supposed to come pick it all up.
So there stood Debbie and me, two innocent women who had gone dumpster diving to find things for people in need, accidentally interfering with a drug operationâand Debbie had been admiring the drug paraphernalia because she thought she'd found some adorable little vases. đ
There are some memories that become more precious with time, and that will forever be one of mine.
But underneath all the funny stories is som**hing I never want anyone to forget:
Debbie Mitchell helped build Brysonnâs Closet.
She was there before the store. Before most people knew our name. Before there was anything impressive to see. She believed in what we were doing when it was simply a lot of hard work and a desire to help people who needed us.
She gave without expecting anything in return.
And we will never forget it.
Debbie, we hope you knew how much you meant to us and how much you meant to Brysonnâs Closet. There are people who have been helped through this ministry who will never know your name, but they have benefited from the seeds you helped plant all those years ago.
We love you, Debbie. We will miss you more than words can say, and you will always be part of the story of Brysonnâs Closet.
Give my mom a big hug for me! â¤ď¸
