Volunteer Spotlight: Joyce Comin

Each week, we make use of satellite locations across Denver and Colorado Springs to make our deliveries more efficient. On Saturdays, volunteer shuttle drivers take a carload of meals from Project Angel Heart to a designated satellite location, where volunteer delivery drivers pick up the bags they will deliver to clients- all under the direction of a volunteer satellite coordinator.

Joyce Comin has served as the shuttle driver, satellite coordinator, and fill-in meal delivery driver at the North Suburban satellite (located in Thornton) for over ten years. Without Joyce, meals deliveries wouldn’t happen in that part of town! We sat down with Joyce to find out a little bit more about her volunteer experience.

Q: What made you want to be a satellite coordinator? How did you get started?

A: I did not know anything about Project Angel Heart until I called to see about delivering meals on Thanksgiving Day in 2004 after my husband passed away the previous month.  My daughter-in-law, who is in the nonprofit field, recommended Project Angel Heart.  Of course they don’t deliver ON a holiday, but the person at Angel Heart chatted with me regarding possibly following up after the holiday.  They learned I had a full-size van, and that I liked to drive, and asked if I’d be interested in becoming a shuttle driver on the new satellite they were opening up. I would also be able to deliver meals as well. I thought that would be a good fit, and started with driving the North Suburban shuttle. This was the beginning of 2005, and I have been the shuttle driver, satellite coordinator, and fill-in meal deliverer every Saturday since 2005.

Q: What do you like most about these roles?

A: I love the camaraderie of all my drivers, and now the other shuttle drivers, and working with all the wonderful and amazing staff at Project Angel Heart. I especially love delivering and learning the various routes, and hearing how much my drivers are appreciated by the clients, as well as the enjoyment and blessings of the meals we deliver.

Q: What qualities do you think make a good Satellite Coordinator?

A: Just to enjoy people, driving if delivering meals, and being available come rain or shine. Oh yes, some organizing ability and of course, adaptability!

Q: What has been your best experience?

A: Getting to know my drivers and families (who are all awesome by the way!), being the fill-in driver when needed, and learning the different routes and clients. But best of all, doing something that is so needed and appreciated by the recipients, which gives me the best feeling of all! There are so many standout anecdotes but maybe one which occurs fairly frequently when I fill in for a regular driver, is when the client asks if the driver is just on vacation, not ill, and how much the client appreciates him/her and the meals! Just goes to show that Project Angel Heart has “Rock Star” volunteers and staff!

Interested in learning more about becoming a satellite coordinator, shuttle driver, or meal deliver driver? Contact our volunteer resources team at volunteer@projectangelheart.org or 303.830.0202.


Matt Nigro is Project Angel Heart’s distribution coordinator. Previously, Matt spent three years working at Food Bank of the Rockies, where he served hundreds of partner agencies- including Project Angel Heart. Originally from Aurora, Matt is a Colorado native, but mostly grew up in Massachusetts before making his way back in 2012. He studied Communications and History at UMass Amherst and, in 2015, had the opportunity to live and work on several organic farms across Italy, where he fell in love with the sustainable lifestyles. In his free time Matt enjoys painting, reading, hiking, rooting for the Broncos and Avs, and volunteering at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, CO.