“My goal is for people to realize that there’s really no difference [between those in need and those helping meet the needs].” -Steph Russell
Meet Steph!
Steph, described by peers as the “heartbeat” of Community Meals, and her cheery team are bringing hope, joy, and a safe space for neighbors to dine and connect as one “big happy family!” Having battled and survived a life-threatening medical condition followed by a daunting chronic autoimmune disease, Steph has turned her pain into purpose by serving her community with dignity and deep compassion. At Community Meals, their mission is to fill bellies and hearts within the community, as a community. This is done through several efforts including serving meals, providing food and hygiene products through their on-site pantry, opening their warming/cooling center on certain evenings, and offering a number of volunteer, internship, and community outreach opportunities. Community Meals at Emmanuel is more than a food program; It is a place every guest feels seen and known – a place where labels, stigma, shame, and circumstance fall to the wayside and people see one another for what they truly are: human.
Current Role: Program Coordinator
Years of Service: 3 years serving Jefferson County neighbors, 2.5 years as official program (Community Meals at Emmanuel).
Team Recognition: At Community Meals, Steph and her team have cultivated a culture of togetherness and infectious joy. Every person, from staff, to volunteers and interns, to “rainbows,” a term used to refer to diners, seems to feel right at home. In conversation about her team and how the program operates, she humbly shared:
“Everyone always wants to talk to me, but it’s them [volunteers and staff], who are really doing the work. I could not do this without them.”
Memorable Moment with Neighbors: In addition to their robust food security efforts, Steph works closely with local halfway houses and supports neighbors navigating the court and legal system. In our interview, she recounts a time where a neighbor was facing challenges finding community service opportunities to fulfill required volunteer hours, due to his criminal record. Once Steph got wind of this, she offered him a position, and the team welcomed him with open arms. In no time, he was thriving at Community Meals. The team’s kind embrace and ability to see him beyond his circumstance opened doors to more than just fulfilling volunteer requirements. For this neighbor, it brought healing, restoration, and positive integration back into community.
Unique Program Attributes: Steph deeply values the unique skills, talents, and personalities of her team and invites them to volunteer in areas that they can thrive and grow. One example of this intentional placement for volunteer experiences is with summer intern, Jules, who is currently studying in the BOCES Culinary Arts Cooking Program. Serving in the kitchen, she gets grow and show her skills by cooking and baking in mass quantities for diners at Community Meals. Another example is with a neighbor who was facing difficult life events and was searching for opportunities to volunteer. After spending some time with the team, showing up diligently and serving at the program, he was offered a paid position. Today, he is working on staff, living independently, and in a more positive place mentally, socially, and physically. Community Meals is interested in more than filling bellies; This team does all they can to help people, from all stages and phases in life, be set on a path towards thriving.
Recent Win: Staff and volunteers from Community Meals recently participated in the Jefferson County Mental Health Walk, showing their care and support for loved ones, their neighbors, and the community. Please visit their Facebook page to see more!
Future Plans: The Community Meals team plan to do more outreach in schools and community spaces to raise awareness about the program, teach about hunger and food insecurity, and help fight stigma surrounding using food assistance services. Beyond these efforts, Steph shared her simple and impactful goal for the future of Community Meals: “Being really good at what we do is the most important thing, and letting people know we want them to come here so we can love on them!”
Words of Encouragement: “Ask people questions! Ask lots of questions! Ask the Food Bank [of Central New York], ask your community, ask your diners [program guests]. There are so many people willing to help and share resources. Don’t be afraid to ask.”
To learn more and keep up with their program, visit Community Meals at Emmanuel.
