Chuck Russo and his dog, Bogey, in the park where they befriended and helped a homeless teenager’s life get back on track through Chuck’s experience during Samsung’s Day of Service.

Chuck Russo and his dog, Bogey, in the park where they befriended and helped a homeless teenager’s life get back on track through Chuck’s experience during Samsung’s Day of Service.

Chuck Russo takes his dog, Bogey, for a walk most mornings at a local park in his hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Greeting everyone they come across, the friendly pair had been practicing this ritual for years when Chuck noticed in the fall of 2014 that one particular teen was there almost every time.

As he and Bogey got to know him, the Samsung TV support specialist discovered that the teen had been living in the park for more than a year. He and others tried to help him by giving him food and clothing, but was at a loss at what else they could do for the teenager who refused to go to the local government shelters … until Samsung’s Day of Service.

“The first Samsung Service Day I participated in was at Covenant House in Newark,” Chuck said of the bi-annual event, “and it became a game changer for me, and most of all for this particular teen.”

As part of Day of Service, Samsung employees learn about the organization they are helping at the beginning of the day; and when Chuck learned that Covenant House provides food, shelter and an array of other important services to homeless, runaway and trafficked youth between the ages of 18-21, “bells and whistles went off and I thought this would be perfect for him,” he recalled. “I was busting with excitement!”

Everything was falling into place. A Covenant House case worker met Chuck and the teen in the park, bringing him food and other supplies and explaining what Covenant House is and how they could help him. While appreciative, the teen was guarded about accepting further help. Thus began a long trust-building period.

About eight months and many trips to the park later, Chuck received a text from the case worker “with the best news ever. The teen decided to give Covenant House a chance, got into their Day Service Program and was now waiting for a bed to open, which it did less than a week later!”

Chuck, a man of faith who enjoys leading the audio/video team at his church, heard the teen continued to do well, spending a few months there, then was reunited with his mother who now had a new home.

“I felt God had answered prayer and orchestrated the whole thing,” Chuck said. “Everyone can realize the important contribution Samsung has made in making this all possible. Many thanks to Samsung and, of course, Covenant House for helping this teen and for the privilege in being a part it.”