It may sound like the old rhyme “the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,” but in our story, it’s the server, the driver, and the baker. That’s the case with Denise Zimmerer, who became a server in 2024, a baker a few months later, and a substitute driver this past February.
Denise retired unexpectedly in 2010 to care for several family members. As her friend and fellow volunteer Mary Lee says, life became “lifey,” and Denise did her best to navigate the changes. Growing up, Denise was taught the importance of giving back, a value that stayed with her throughout adulthood. When asked why she volunteers, Denise explains that the past fourteen years have been challenging and at times isolating. Volunteering offers a path to providing connection, purpose, and the chance to contribute to something meaningful.
Each role brings its own rewards. Servers get to know one another as well as the Meals on Wheels kitchen and office staff. Denise describes an easy camaraderie filled with greetings, smiles, and laughter. Baking came her way simply because an extra set of hands was needed, and driving grew from conversations with other volunteers.
Denise grew up on the East Coast with her brother and mother. A summer trip to California led to a teaching opportunity for her mother at Carmel High School, where she taught Spanish for many years. Denise later attended MPC and Cal Poly, earning a degree in Graphic Communications. She and her husband eventually moved from Carmel to Connecticut for an aerospace position, then to Phoenix, where they lived for 30 years. During that time, Denise taught in an inner-city elementary school, helped open a new school, and worked with ASU on the district’s teacher mentor program.
When asked what she would say to someone considering volunteering, Denise shared; “Stepping out to help your community, even in small ways, is rewarding and fun. Volunteering helped me see beyond myself and meet so many wonderful people working to make a difference. I don’t know what prompted me to reach out when I did, but I finally stepped out of my comfort zone.”
We are grateful Denise took that step and has become such a dedicated volunteer to Meals on Wheels.
