Where a Knock Becomes a Friendship
- Gayle Melges
- Dec 29, 2025
- 2 min read
At Nourish Meals on Wheels, every delivery is an opportunity for connection. While the meals provide nourishment, it is often the relationships formed at the door that leave the greatest impact. Volunteers create space for conversation, shared memories, and genuine care, reminding older adults that they are seen and valued.
For Kim, volunteering with Nourish began during a season of transition. After moving from Los Angeles to Denver to care for her grandmother, she was looking for a way to give back and connect with her new community. She found that connection on Mondays along Route 47 in Highlands Ranch.
On her very first day delivering meals, Kim met Sandy (90) and Dell (89), who invited her to sit down in a simple fold-out chair and get to know them. That first visit quickly became a weekly tradition. Some weeks their conversations last an hour or more as they share stories about their lives, travel, and the memories that have shaped them.
As their friendship grew, Kim discovered unexpected connections. Sandy and Dell had lived in Los Angeles during the same decades Kim’s family did, and Sandy had worked as a mechanic in the aerospace industry, just like Kim’s father. Their shared faith and love of travel deepened the bond even further.
Dell is deeply grateful for the nourishing meals she can no longer prepare due to arthritis and for the care and consistency Kim brings with each visit. Kim, in turn, says she is “incredibly grateful for the connection we share. What started as a simple volunteer opportunity has blossomed into something so much more. Nourish Meals on Wheels is about building relationships.”
Kim’s story reflects the heart of the Nourish mission. It is not just about delivering meals. It is about creating meaningful moments that bring comfort, dignity, and connection to those we serve.
Volunteers like Kim turn a simple delivery into a meaningful connection. Join our volunteer team or make a gift today to help ensure that every neighbor feels cared for and connected.