Judy Denison (she/her/hers) has been volunteering with the IRC in Denver for many years. She helps to secure furniture for refugee and immigrant families, partnering with CK & Done Estate Sales to collect leftover furniture and household items after sales, and with Golden Real Estate to transport the items back to the IRC warehouse. She grew up in Massachusetts and attended Northfield Mount Hermon School, where she acquired her ideals aligned with the purpose of the school: education for the head, heart, and hand. She works to serve her community through collaborative, mutually-empowering relationships.

How did you first get connected to the IRC in Denver?

After Hurricane Katrina I formed the Golden Relief Group to help evacuees – it’s really just an email list to collect donations or needed items. When the Syrian refugee crisis started we began supporting another resettlement agency, but they were a bit far from where we lived. The IRC in Denver moved near us so we tried working with them and like them very much!

What motivates you to volunteer?

I've been interested in refugees my whole life. After Word War II there were many displaced persons in my area. When I was 14 years old there was a refugee from Yugoslavia helping at the summer camp where I was a counselor. I was always fascinated hearing him speak German, and I wanted to know his story. When I was in college I met so many displaced persons, and they could all speak German, so I learned it. I wanted to meet them and learn their stories. Then in the 1980s I encouraged my church to sponsor Polish refugees, and we hosted them in our home for six weeks. Even today, I volunteer with the IRC in Denver and I am now hosting a young refugee family in my home.

What has been particularly moving or meaningful during your volunteer work?

Nowadays I don’t volunteer directly with refugees at the IRC in Denver, I’m only dealing with the furniture. I really feel a bond with Jennifer, the volunteer coordinator. I feel closest to her at the office. And I’ve enjoyed all the friends I’ve made through this.

I’m also currently hosting an Ecuadorian couple in my home – they’re not IRC in Denver clients. I got sick earlier this year and collapsed at home. The young woman staying with me found me. She tried to help me to bed but she couldn’t. So she found my phone, found my daughter’s contact, and texted her for an ambulance. She saved my life – I saved her and she saved me. When I came home I was still weak and needed lots of rest. They took care of me. That never happens – I’m always taking care of other people. It was so special.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned since becoming an IRC volunteer?

I didn’t expect it would bring me such happiness. I’m making new friends. I’m 87, but I have all these friends, some in their 60s, some in their 30s. It’s enriched my life immensely. I like to feel connected, and it’s made me feel connected.

What is your proudest moment from your volunteer service?

We’ve been successful in getting so many items to resettle refugees – I’m proud of that. I’ve also been able to pull people into the work. Once I didn’t have enough people to load furniture into the truck, so I went out onto the sidewalk and snagged a young man off the street to help. He’s been helping us ever since.

What’s your favorite story about working with one of our clients, staff, or other volunteers?

I can’t think of one favorite – I’ve really liked working with the IRC in Denver. You know, everybody likes to be useful. In physics there’s a concept of “supercooled.” If you have some water, and you don’t disturb it and it doesn’t have anything to freeze onto, you can lower the temperature below freezing and it won’t freeze. Until you drop something in, and it’ll freeze instantly. People are like a supercooled liquid. They just need something to drop in – a nucleus for them to attach to.

Interested in volunteering? Find your local field office and volunteer coordinator here.

Written by: Hanna Simmons