Just under 5 feet tall, with long brown hair and an infectious smile, Desiree Romero has a cheerful greeting for everyone she meets.

Whether volunteering at the Rosemont Assisted Living Center or dishing up lunches at the Luisa Senior Center, the 26-year-old is living testament to the power of giving.

"I love to help people with food," Romero said. "If they need more help, they can always come and ask me."

Her friendship with Mila, a resident at Rosemont, changed both their lives. The elderly woman was in hospice — a preparation for the end of life — when Romero met her several years ago while volunteering with Odyssey Healthcare of New Mexico. Today, 96-year-old Mila is a hospice graduate.

"Desiree has a heart of gold and loves working with the elderly," wrote Romero's mother, Magdalena L. Romero.

For her work with Mila, Romero received a Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Community Service from the Department of Health/Developmental Disabilities Support Division, as well as a statewide award from the Department of Health.

About Romero, the department wrote, "Mila, who is now 96, is illuminated with life when she visits with Desiree ... This is truly an exceptional example of someone doing the work of their heart."

Volunteer work with seniors is just one reason the proud mother nominated her daughter to be one of Santa Fe's 10 Who Made a Difference.

Magdalena Romero also knows that her daughter can inspire others — Desiree was born with Down syndrome.

Recently, in a spacious communal room at Rosemont, Romero and Mila were sitting together, chatting like old friends. Mila, it turned out, recently was the belle of the ball at a seniors' dance.

When asked to dance, "I never refuse," she told Romero. The younger woman nodded. She, too, loves dancing, including with the Baile Folklorico. "All my family loves to dance," she replied to Mila.

Every holiday season, Romero attends the Snowball Cotillion, a party for adults with developmental disabilities. She's particularly excited about this year's dance: she's taking her fiancé, Ryan Hanson.

"He proposed Sept. 3, at an Isotopes game," Romero said, showing off her sparkly solitaire. "He even kneeled down. We're very happy."

The wedding is a way off, maybe next August, and her mother says the young couple isn't too far along with their wedding plans. Right now, daily life is keeping Romero busy enough.

She spends time at Rosemont with Mila, usually a couple of times a week. She has her swimming classes and her other volunteer work at the senior center, where she can be found delivering breakfast and lunches.

"She's very involved when she's volunteering," said Margie Aragon, an assistant who helps Romero on her rounds. "I'm her staff, so I just follow her around. She goes and puts on her apron and preps the Meals on Wheels. She visits four compounds and knows who gets meals — who gets breakfast and lunch or just breakfast, and who likes chocolate milk."

Jonathan Toya, her boss at Luisa Center, can't praise Romero enough. "I can really rely on her," he said. "She knows more than anyone else who helps in the kitchen."

At 10:50 a.m. on a recent weekday, the line was forming for lunch at the center. Romero was behind the counter, her shiny brown hair gathered in a net, her carefully manicured hands encased in gloves. She started handing out plates, smiling at her seniors and enjoying the banter.

When the French bread arrived, a bit late for the folks who already had been through the line, she carefully arranged it on a tray, saying, "I'm going to take people their bread." She didn't need anyone to ask her; she saw what needed doing and stepped forward.

Toya, who has worked with Romero the past three years, said, "she knows how to do everything in the kitchen except cook."

Working has been a part of Romero's life since she finished at Santa Fe High School. She had jobs at Nava Elementary School, Mervyn's, Pizza Hut and the state, all while volunteering and participating in Special Olympics. She was the 1998 Special Olympics athlete of the year and attended the world Special Olympics in 1999.

Like the rest of her family, she also loves bowling, joking, "I grew up at the bowling alley." Both her mom and her father, Joe Romero, have been avid bowlers.

With her mom, she likes getting up early to exercise before starting on the business of the day. She enjoys visiting her dad and her stepsisters: like Romero, a sister is engaged and will be marrying this spring.

Why does she volunteer? "I know I can help people who are elderly." Armed with that knowledge, Romero gets up every day and makes a difference. She thinks everyone should.

Contact Inez Russell at 986-3093 or irussell@sfnewmexican.com.