Starting April 1, Serenity Thrift Store will have a new manager, no fooling.

Evelyn Barnes, who has been manager for 12 years, is retiring so she can deal with some medical problems. Then she and her husband want to travel and later return to do volunteer work.

When Barnes started, the resale shop was on Washington Street. It quickly outgrew that location and moved to the present space at 215 N. Sequim Ave. Barnes says they are outgrowing that location too.

The thrift shop sells gently used merchandise to raise money for Serenity House of Clallam County, which provides shelter for persons who have no homes. More than 80 percent of the money raised at the thrift shop goes to Serenity House after bills are paid. The shop is staffed by volunteers.

Barnes says the hardest part of leaving will be all the people who work there and the regular customers. Fourteen volunteers help regularly.

"We are like a big family," she says.

Every year they sell more than the previous year, Barnes says, and strive to keep prices low so everyone can afford to shop there.

Most donated items come from people who are moving. Occasionally the shop gets clothing that never has been worn. Recently it received a silver jacket that the tags said sold for $200.

They marked it way down.

While Barnes says they don't seem to be getting more customers, she does see the donations falling off. People are not bringing in furniture as they once did.

The store is open seven days a week, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-

4 p.m. Sunday.

The new manager will be Belicia Longoria, who has been the assistant manager.