A Volunteer Story Rooted in Heart, History and Home
Rosalie first volunteered with Ronald McDonald House-Denver in 1986, stepping into the original Ogden Street House long before we had two Houses, a Culinary Team or the robust volunteer program we know today. Her first role was as a receptionist, greeting families, learning their stories and helping create the sense of home that has defined RMHC-Denver for decades. The joy she found in those early years stayed with her long after she stepped away in 1992 to raise her family, and now she’s returned with the same warmth and willingness to help that shaped her earliest days as a volunteer.
From the start, Rosalie proved to be a volunteer who stepped in without hesitation whenever help was needed. She helped organize the garage sale fundraiser, spending days sorting donations, tagging items and setting up in the backyard of the House. When the weekend arrived, she and her fellow volunteers, Mary and Marcia, found themselves bartering with every shopper who walked through. They laughed about it for years, and the experience cemented a friendship that has lasted a lifetime.
But she never forgot the joy she felt at the House. “I remember how much fun I had volunteering,” she shared. “It feels good to be back.”
Her return was shaped by something deeply personal. During the pandemic, Rosalie traveled to Tennessee to help care for her niece’s daughter, who had been diagnosed with lymphoma at age eleven. Today, Stella is seventeen, healthy and dreaming of becoming a pediatric nurse, but the experience reminded Rosalie of the emotional and financial strain families face when a child is seriously ill. “Ronald McDonald House is such an amazing resource,” she said. “I know what a difference it makes.”
Now retired, Rosalie wanted to give her time to an organization where she could be hands‑on and surrounded by people. When she learned about the new Meal Helper role, an opportunity to work alongside our Culinary Team to prepare meals for families, it felt like the perfect fit. “I missed the connections. Volunteering here brings that joy back.”
And when she walked into the Denver kitchen this year, she was stunned. “I was blown away by the fabulous kitchen, the chef team and that dinners are provided for families,” she said. “Meals and food availability were sorely lacking in the early days.”
Rosalie brings her love of cooking into the kitchen, offering the same warmth and steady presence she once shared at the Ogden Street House. She enjoys working alongside the Culinary Team, tackling whatever the day’s prep requires, and most of all, connecting with the families whose stories remind her why this work matters.
For Rosalie, returning to RMHC-Denver feels like coming home, only now, the House has grown into something even more beautiful, modern and full of life. And just like before, she’s found what she missed most: the connections, the shared purpose and the joy of being part of something that truly makes a difference.
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