I started volunteering at Denver Zoo when I was at a low point in my life. I was getting divorced and just moved to town with my 16-year-old, and didn’t know what to do with myself. I heard about the opportunity to volunteer, and thought it would be fun. I fell in love with the lorikeets, and loved being able to share that enthusiasm with guests. To see a child’s face light up was great, but my favorite was when a grown-up who was afraid would have an interaction, and you could see them fall in love with birds.
The first time that my boyfriend (now husband) and I got our kids together was at Zoo Lights. It was so amazing to see them all get along, and start building a relationship that night. We all still talk about that night with lots of giggling and inside jokes. Being a Zoo volunteer helped me find purpose during a time when I was struggling to love myself.