Denise Hanes's Story: "Denise’s Life Long Dream"
Photo and Story courtesy of
Joan Blodgett, Tobosa Developmental Services
Updated: 8/14/07.

Denise Hanes’s life long dream has always been to work with children. She was very excited when the door was opened for her to volunteer at Working Mothers Day Nursery. Denise gives the snacks to the children and makes sure they had their set-ups for the lunch meal. She also provides light janitorial duties. Denise quickly became very attached to the children and her coworkers, just as they did with her.

She has now been employed at Working Mothers Day Nursery for 2 years and received an award from her employer in appreciation for her work. She loves her job and is living her dream.

Denise was born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico, and lives at home with her mother. Denise came to Tobosa Developmental Services in 1985 after her public school education was completed. She has two sisters and one brother who live in the Roswell area with their spouses and children. Denise and her mother are often involved with community activities. Most recently they helped with the Mardi Gras celebration sponsored by All Saints Catholic School in Roswell.

Denise first volunteered at Working Mothers Day Nursery for about six months until she was hired in April 2004. She works Monday through Friday for approximately four hours each day and is responsible for setting the tables for lunch. Once she has set the tables, she helps the cook in covering the serving bowls and putting them on the appropriate tables. Denise pours juice and milk for the kids and helps serve them their meals. When the children have finished eating she clears the tables, takes the dishes to the kitchen and begins washing and sanitizing them. She then sweeps the dining area, takes the kitchen towels to the laundry room and sets the tables for the afternoon snack.

In November 2006, Denise began receiving additional services from Tobosa that gave her an opportunity to nurture friendships and participate in community activities that she enjoys. Some of her new interests include playing Bingo, taking ceramics classes and participating in cooking classes at the Extension Office in Roswell. Other activities Denise enjoys are baking cookies, watching her favorite TV shows, scrap booking and doing latch hook projects.

Denise loves to give Christmas cards to her friends at Working Mothers Day Nursery and Tobosa. Because Denise is hearing impaired, she wants to learn basic sign language and loves to teach it to others whenever she gets the opportunity.

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