Faith in Action a big pick-me-up for Alle-Kiski seniors, people with disabilities

When Helen Kuhar and her son, John, needed rides to and from their doctor's appointments, Helen took to the phone.

The 86-year-old, who stopped driving a year ago, called her neighbors and friends, but they were usually busy.

She tried some transportation agencies. No dice.

Then her daughter told her about the Faith in Action program.

Run by the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches in Harrison, the program provides free rides to seniors and people with disabilities who aren't able to get to and from doctors appointments.

Kuhar has been using the program for more than a year.

She doesn't know what she and John would do without it.

“We would be destitute,” the Springdale resident said.

In addition to driving, the program supports seniors with acts of kindness while linking them to the community.

Kuhar gets rides from Doug Orseno, the program's coordinator.

He helps Kuhar and John, who is mentally disabled, get to and from his car. Both use walkers.

Orseno drives them to their appointments and waits for them to be done before taking them home. If they need something from the store or have to get a prescription filled, he stops for that, too.

“He made sure he's there for us,” Kuhar said.

The service may be valuable, but volunteers are scarce. That's why Orseno is doing most of the driving.

“I have a couple volunteers that are helpful ... but to keep it going, we definitely do need more volunteers,” said Orseno, 33, of Arnold. “I work about 20 hours a week there, so I'm not full time, but I usually work more than that just because taking people can take some time.”

The program serves about 30 seniors a month throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley.

It has two volunteers, Sam and Betty Krutz of Hempfield.

Karen Snair, executive director of the churches association, worries the low number of volunteers could mean the end of the program.

Snair said at one point there were more volunteers than seniors, but that's not the case anymore. The association has been struggling to find more since 2005.

“I seriously am concerned for the seniors who depend on this program,” Snair said. “Who would provide their needs? How would they remain connected to the community?”

Orseno took over the program last year, after volunteering for four years.

He wants Faith in Action to offer other services, such as friendly visits, but the lack of volunteers has left him hindered.

“It's kind of tough,” he said. “We're getting a lot seniors, just not a lot of volunteers to help these seniors. I've had to turn people down in the past. That is one of the worst things, to have to turn people down.

“The more volunteers, you know, maybe we wouldn't have to do that.”

But there is a bright side.

When he is not working for Faith in Action, Orseno works for Sam Krutz, a real estate appraiser.

His boss often gives Orseno time off to drive seniors to and from their doctor visits.

“I always tell him: it's more important to (serve) God than to serve me,” said Krutz. “There's no greater thing then to be able to help other people.”

The program has been nothing but rewarding for the two men.

Orseno said he was reluctant to drive people at first, but quickly changed his tune.

“After you take a couple people and you see the impact that you can make, you know that people need rides, people need help, and there's really nowhere else for them to get it,” he said.

“It's nice that we're here to help them.”

Krutz has been a volunteer for about seven or eight years. He has made several friends along the way.

One, a man named John, worked when planes came in to be serviced during World War II, including during the D-Day invasion. He has since died, but Krutz remembers him fondly.

“He was amazing,” Krutz said.

There have also been tears.

On one occasion, a woman cried uncontrollably as Orseno drove her to the doctor.

“She had called places to get rides and she was unable to ever get a ride anywhere,” Orseno said. “Somehow she heard (about) us and called me, and I was able to take her the very next day. She thought that was amazing.”

Why more people aren't volunteering remains a mystery.

Orseno distributes pamphlets in doctors' offices and on public bulletin boards. He has also gone to churches and community events to discuss the program.

Though people initially express interest, there is little follow through. Orseno said that may have something to do with the fact that the program includes driving, as volunteers use their own vehicles.

“I think it could have something to do with it, especially (since) it seems like a lot of the volunteers are older, and I don't know if they're uncomfortable driving people around,” Orseno said.

Despite the rides being free, Kuhar tries to give Orseno money for gas. He never takes it, so she makes donations to the association.

“He's such a blessing to us,” she said.

Madasyn Czebiniak is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4702, mczebiniak@tribweb.com, or via Twitter @maddyczebstrib.