While residing in in Stone Mountain Denise was extremely active in her community. She served on the PTSA in various capacities from Elementary School through her youngest child’s graduation from High School. She was the co-founder of the Stephenson Community Council and Co-Founder of the Non-Profit SMLYES (Stone Mountain- Lithonia Youth Empowerment Services, Inc. In 2012, Denise ran for 6th district School Board in DeKalb County, forcing a run off between herself and the candidate of choice. ended up in a runoff with the main opponent. Denise was also a Girl Scout Troop Leader for Troop 24607 and a member of the Yellow Wildflowers Service Unit of Stone Mountain for 12 years
While in Stone Mountain, she did tons of volunteerism with Open Arms Panty in Monroe, GA- and in 2014 she started Giving Hearts with her friend Callie Clegg.
This sparked her interest and passion in serving others at this capacity,
Divorce sparked the need for a Fresh Start. Looking at a map of Georgia, she choose Carrollton and moved from Stone Mountain in September of 2017. She started working for Action Ministries as the Carroll County Coordinator in April of 2018 supporting the The Smart Lunch Smart Kid Program which was provided through Carrollton City Schools. When Denise started with the program, only 3,980 meals were served over the 10-week program. Her Goal for 2018 was to provide 5,148 meals- and she surpassed that by providing 9,253 meals over the 10-week period. This summer past 16,650 meals were provided.
Realizing children not eating during the summer were also not eating during holiday breaks. Working through churches, volunteers, and the University of West Georgia she found ways to supplement food. She also realized there were Seniors who were not getting sufficient food supplies.
The Senior Outreach Program was implemented in January 2019 with 30 Seniors. We are currently serving 150 Seniors in the program. During the Covid outbreak, two free Mobile Pantries were established to help offset food insecurity within the county. In addition to those Mobile Pantries Denise worked with several organizations to bring in free food resources to the community.
Action Ministries was acquired by Hope Atlanta in the Fall of 2020, and the Rome, GA Assets in Rome, GA were recently acquired by the newly formed NW. GA Hunger Ministries in April 2022. Denise transitioned to this Organization in July, while also focusing on becoming an independent organization servicing Carroll County. Giving Hearts currently administers three Mobile Pantries a month and is in the process of securing a fourth location as well as establishing a stand-alone panty in the winter of 2023.
Denise is a Member of the Carrollton Optimist Club as well as The Carrollton Rotary Club.
Denise is the mother of two children, daughter Kelli McGill (deceased) and Brandon McGill. She and her Husband David have five grandchildren and reside in Carrollton, GA with their two dogs Bella and Bear.