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Denise’s volunteer journey with Palmetto Goodwill began about nine years ago, sparked by a simple moment while waiting for her son Ronny to finish work at the Sangaree store in Summerville, South Carolina.
“My son works at the Sangaree location, and I used to wait outside for him to get off work,” she said. “I once came early and came in to shop. After I looked around the store, I saw the manager working on a rack of clothes. I started to talk to her and saw what she was doing. I started to help her on the other side and we continued to chat. She finally said, ‘Ronny works here, but you could volunteer.’ That interested me.”
A longtime volunteer with both her church and her children’s school, Denise said helping others came naturally. After completing the volunteer sign-up process, she became a familiar face at the store — and a valued member of the team.
In 2020, Denise was recognized as Palmetto Goodwill’s Volunteer of the Year.
Her initial focus was simply learning how she could help. “I figured out where I could be most useful and learned from there,” she said. Over time, she developed a strong skill set in textiles — sorting, tagging, hanging and displaying clothing on the floor — and she’s also helped with hard goods when needed.
“I usually ask the manager what they need as I arrive, and other times I just scan the area to see what I can jump in to help with,” Denise said. “I enjoy working out on the floor, greeting customers and helping them find what they are looking for. I enjoy seeing our regulars.”
Denise said the experience has deepened her appreciation for teamwork and relationships.
“Volunteer work has shown me what can be accomplished when we all work together for a goal,” she said. “It is great to make new relationships while working on those goals.”
She recalled a memorable moment involving a young girl and her mother who spoke only Spanish. Staff members were struggling to understand their request until another customer used Google Translate to assist.
“That was a sweet moment,” Denise said.
Another standout memory came when she spotted luxury items among donations. “I noticed some high-end china in a cart and then saw two Prada purses. Whoa — Prada!” she said. “We got those taken out quickly and in the ‘Shop Goodwill’ box for the stuff sold online. I looked up the purse and they were $2,000 purses. I had a lot of fun telling everybody about those purses!”
Beyond Goodwill, Denise has volunteered at St. John the Beloved Catholic Church in Summerville for more than 15 years — first in the nursery and now as an usher and greeter. She also spent years involved with the PTA in Dorchester District 2, where she helped organize events and even worked with the superintendent on special projects.
“I’ve developed so many friendships over the years from volunteering,” she said. “I’ve had fun working on projects with so many wonderful people who I might not have met otherwise.”
For Denise, volunteering is deeply personal. Her son Ronny, who is on the autism spectrum, works at the Sangaree store and thrives in the supportive environment.
“Ronny doesn’t socialize much at all and finds many situations hard to navigate,” she said. “The employees there look out for him and let me know if there is a problem. One of the reasons I help out and volunteer is to give back to the organization in appreciation for him working there and for the way they take care of him.”
Denise encourages others to find ways to get involved — even if just a few hours each week.
“It’s been a great experience for me to work here. My help is appreciated,” she said. “I would tell somebody to just look at what’s available to do here and go for it.”
Through Denise and Ronny’s story, it’s clear how Palmetto Goodwill’s mission comes to life — creating space for individuals and families to grow, thrive and give back.
Ready to make your own impact? Learn more at www.palmettogoodwill.org/volunteer.
