Faith in Action Steuben County (NY), a nonprofit dedicated to serving the needs of older people in the region, has been a vital part of the community since 1995. The organization’s Executive Director, Dick Russell, has been instrumental in its growth and success over the past two decades.
Founded in 1995 with a grant from the Robert Wood Foundation in 1994, Faith in Action Steuben County served a small area with a handful of volunteers. Dick Russell joined the organization as Executive Director in 2003, bringing with him a passion for serving others and a wealth of experience in human services. At the time, the organization only served three zip codes.
Under Russell’s leadership, Faith in Action has expanded its service area to include Steuben and Chemung Counties, covering 56 zip codes. The organization now serves a client base that has grown tenfold since 2003.
Primarily providing transportation services, Faith in Action also provides services for friendly visits, telephone reassurance, light housekeeping assistance, and sometimes respite care for family caregivers.
The organization’s average volunteer age is 67.5, and the average client is 79.5. Steuben County’s 65+ population is 22.3%, while Chemung County’s is 20.7%, exceeding the national average of 17.5%.
Dick Russell’s involvement with Faith in Action began serendipitously. While attending church with his wife in 1995, he heard the first executive director speak about the organization’s mission. Impressed by the work they were doing, Dick expressed to his wife that he wanted to volunteer once his children were older.
Little did he know that his life would take an unexpected turn—eight years later, he became the Executive Director.
Dick started off life working in industry and then started taking human service courses at Empire State College. He felt he had more to offer the world than making bathroom furniture. He landed a position for 10 years working as a residence manager for people with developmental disabilities before he became the ED of the Faith in Action Steuben County.
One of the most notable changes Dick has observed is the shift in attitude among clients. The Greatest Generation, those who lived through the Great Depression and WWII, would find it difficult to call for help. Clients need to be 60 or older to receive services at Faith in Action, and now he notices sometimes that whenever a person turns 60, they call to find out what is on offer and sign up for services just in case.
Despite the growth in the organization, Faith in Action has maintained a relatively small staff. Dick attributes this success to the dedicated volunteers who contribute countless hours to the organization’s mission. Technology, such as the Ride Scheduler program, has also helped streamline operations and reduce the need for administrative staff.
Dick recalls a story of one volunteer.
“One of my most memorable moments came from a volunteer named Teresa. Her husband passed away, and she was lonely, so she decided that helping people was something she could do.”
“One day, she drove a 93-year-old client to the Aldi store for groceries. Patience was needed for this particular client because she read every label on every product. If she wanted to buy two cans of green beans, she would read both labels until she was satisfied. A man in the store approached the pair and asked Teresa if she was helping her mother. She answered no and said that she was a volunteer caregiver. She explained to him what that was and said she was helping this woman buy groceries.”
“When Teresa and the woman reached the cashier, the cashier handed Teresa a bouquet of red roses. The cashier exclaimed that the man who had approached them in the store was so grateful that Teresa was helping this woman, and he wanted to do something for her. It turned out that it was Teresa’s wedding anniversary on that particular day, and her husband had always given her a bouquet of red roses every year.”
“Later, I was retelling this story at a remote church, trying to encourage people to volunteer with us. Teresa happened to be visiting that little Methodist country church herself on that particular day and piped up—”It’s a true story because I’m the one he gave the roses to.” An audible gasp, of course, and some tears.”
Dick is grateful for this experience.
“I tell everyone in every presentation I give about Faith in Action Steuben County that I have been tremendously blessed to have a front-row seat to watch people who want and need help and who are helped by amazing volunteers. You can’t replace these experiences with anything else. I’m grateful to all who want to help others make someone else’s day a little better or help take a worry off their plate. It’s very special.”
As Dick Russell prepares to retire in May 2025, he leaves behind a lasting legacy of service and dedication to the Steuben County community. His passion for helping others, combined with his effective leadership, has made a significant difference in the lives of countless individuals.
After retiring, Dick will miss much of the day-to-day interaction with clients and volunteers. But guess what he plans to do after talking about it back in 1995—he plans to volunteer at Faith in Action Steuben County.
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