NATCHEZ — Manfred Carr meets people from all walks of life working the checkout counter at the Guardian Collection Thrift Store.

The Vermont native moved to Natchez in 1989 after he retired from General Electric hoping for a change of scenery.

A road trip through the Miss-Lou would eventually provide he and his wife a place to settle down away from the bitter winter weather.

“We wanted to get out of the cold weather up there, so we came down to Natchez on vacation after I retired and liked what we saw,” Carr said. “We liked it so much, we decided to call it home.”

After settling in Natchez, Carr said he got involved with the store as a way to give back to those who had welcomed him to the community.

Nearly 13 years ago, Carr began volunteering at the thrift store, which is operated through Catholic Charities.

The store sells clothes, cookware, appliances and other goods that have been donated by the community.

The store provides resources and funding to The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families program, which is also operated through Catholic Charities.

Giving his time to an organization that helps others has been worth each day spent at the store, Carr said.

“Life has been good to me, so if I can give a little back I’m going to do it,” Carr said. “Anything I can do to help, I’ll do.”

Carr volunteers Monday through Friday at the store on Franklin Street and generally stays from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

The majority of Carr’s time is spent at the checkout counter, where he sits in a high chair with yellow fabric that slightly leans up against the back wall.

From that spot, Carr has the perfect vantage point to greet customers as they come in and help those who are perusing through the racks of clothes or household items scattered throughout the store.

“I’ll wait on the customers and help them with whatever they need,” Carr said recently as he sorted through customer’s items. “The people here are very nice, and I like keeping up general conversation with them.

“I meet a lot of people from all walks of life in this store.”

When he’s not striking up a conversation with customers, Carr said he often reads or tidies items around the store to pass the time.

“Staying busy makes the time go by faster,” he said. “I help out with whatever I can.”

Store manager Phyllis Hall said Carr is one of two volunteers who regularly give their time to help out.

“He’s very dedicated to being here and helping us out,” Hall said. “He’s ‘Johnny on the Spot’ whenever you need something.”

Hall, who has been with the store for 17 years, said Carr has become somewhat of an institution for the more regular customers.

“Everyone knows who he is and loves talking to him when they come in,” Hall said. “He got sick for a while and couldn’t come to work, and all of the customers always asked about him and when he was coming back.”

Carr said he’s enjoyed his time at the store and in Natchez.

“I’ll probably wind up staying here until I die,” Carr said, smiling.