For Shelli Mayer, volunteering isn’t something she schedules around her life — it’s something that has always been woven into it.
“I guess I don't even think about it. Volunteering has always been such a big part of my life. I would be lacking something if I didn't do it,” she said.
A longtime Mutual of Omaha associate and self-described “boomerang,” Mayer first joined Mutual of Omaha in 1981, spent nearly 25 years with the company, stepped away for a decade and returned in 2016. Today, she serves as a product owner supporting institutional annuities, but her impact extends far beyond her role.
A legacy of service
Mayer traces her passion for volunteering back to her mom.
“My mother volunteered for the Madonna School for probably 40 years. It's always been instilled in me that you give back to your community,” Mayer said.
That example stuck with Mayer. As a teenager, she tagged along to events and learned early that service was simply part of being engaged in your community.
She also credits Mutual of Omaha for fostering a strong sense of community and providing volunteer opportunities, such as Brush Up Nebraska (now called HomeWoven), where she and her team volunteered for 15 years.
Quiet work that makes a big impact
Much of Mayer’s volunteering happens behind the scenes. For the past 16 years, she’s worked in Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium diet kitchen, preparing meals for animals ranging from orangutans to lemurs.
“All of the meals are prepared and sent out for the animals,” she said. “It’s weighing out the right amount of food, bagging it up and getting it ready to go.”
It’s essential work, and often unseen.
“If the zoo didn't have volunteers, they wouldn't be able to do most of the stuff that they do,” Mayer said.
That quiet consistency shows up time and again in Mayer’s service.
Food is also a recurring theme in Mayer’s volunteering, rooted in family, memory and connection.
“Food is just kind of this generational way to communicate with people. It shows that you care,” she said. Through Lasagna Love, a global nonprofit and grassroots movement that aims to positively impact communities by connecting neighbors with each other through homemade meal delivery, Mayer regularly prepares meals for those experiencing stress or hardship. When coordinating individual deliveries became difficult, she adapted by making lasagnas in bulk instead.
“Every couple of months I'll put together probably 10 lasagnas,” she said.
Those meals have supported veterans, families impacted by tornadoes and community members across the region — wherever the need is greatest.
She brings that same care to her work with Fresh Start, a women’s domestic violence shelter in Lincoln, where she prepares themed dinners so residents can focus on rebuilding their lives.
Growing community
Mayer is also a master gardener with Friends of Extension & 4H, following in her mother’s footsteps. At a teaching garden at the Papillion Library, she helps maintain the space while sharing knowledge with visitors.
“We talk to them about what we're doing and the different plants and how they can learn how to garden,” she said.
For Mayer, volunteering isn’t just about giving, it’s about connection, learning and shared purpose.
A mindset shift
Mayer believes volunteering starts with intention.
“You need to change the paradigm,” she said. “Not ‘How do I fit it into my life?’ You have to make the determination that you want to do this.”
Grounded in her passions — food, animals and the environment — she believes service has the power to transform not just communities, but the people who show up to serve them.
“Just go volunteer,” she said. “It enriches your life tenfold.”
At Mutual of Omaha, giving back is more than a moment, it’s a commitment. In 2025 alone, our associates contributed over 20,000 volunteer hours nationwide, creating a measurable and heartfelt impact across the country. Through paid, manager‑approved volunteer time, we’re proud to support our associates' passion for service and celebrate the collective impact they make every day.