For 90-year-old volunteer it's about attitude, not age

By Rhonda Costa-Landers

Appeal Staff Writer

At Classy Seconds Thrift Store, there's a place for everything and everything has its place.

"But we're never ahead of the game," said volunteer Harriet Keeran. "Ever. We get a lot of stuff."

Keeran has been a volunteer at Classy Seconds for nearly eight years. She volunteers from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Not so much out of the ordinary for a volunteer, except that on April 8, Keeran will celebrate her 90th birthday.

"I do this because I want to," she said. "I like working here and everybody should take a stint at doing it."

Keeran, a spry woman with a friendly smile, likes sorting through the clothing, especially the baby items and organizing them by age group.

"Sorting and organizing in itself is an all-day job. People would rather look for things that are sorted.

"But the shoes are tedious. And we have boxes and piles of them. I just don't understand people."

Keeran lives in Carson City with her daughter, Diane. She has five children, one of them deceased, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In her free time at home, she enjoys reading and exercising.

Keeran said by volunteering twice a week, it leaves plenty of time for other activities.

"They were real nice here to let me make my own hours," she said.

"We sometimes have to pull her out of here at night," said Thrift Store Manager Karen Thorpe.

"We have to remind her we're closing when we're about to turn out the lights."

"I hope I can continue to volunteer for a long time," Keeran said. "I don't think age matters. It's the attitude."

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.