VISION Opens Eyes

Decades ago, Vince Kabacinski noticed a woman swinging alone on the playground in Kirby Park in Kingston. She looked upset, so he decided to stop and talk to try to cheer her up. The conversation redirected his life: He ended up convincing her that life was still worth living — despite the fact that she was homeless.

During the ordeal, Vince received a phone call from the hospital notifying him of his mother’s serious illness. Faced with the decision whether to see his mother before she passed or talk this woman out of suicide, Vince wondered what his mother would have wanted him to do and ultimately decided to stay with the woman. Today, that woman is a married mother, who once surprised Vince at his office to introduce him to her new baby boy. His name is Vincent.

Nearly 20 years later, he’s still helping the homeless as the co-founder of the Volunteers In Service In Our Neighborhoods (VISION), an organization that offers shelter and services to homeless men in Luzerne County.

VISION was started in January 1985 when three men approached Rev. Kenneth Carter, a former pastor of the Central United Methodist Church in Wilkes-Barre. The men, having nowhere to sleep during the sub-zero temperatures, were desperate. A few phone calls later, Carter gathered sleeping bags and allowed the men to sleep in the church. The program steadily grew throughout the years, helping to improve the lives of thousands of men. Kabacinski said the reason he does this work is very simple. “So they can feel as good as you and I do about life.”

The nation’s bleak economy is forcing many people from their homes. In Luzerne County alone, more than 1,000 men stay at homeless shelters each night.

Kabacinski, who has been with the program for 27 years, said MU was the first school to participate in the annual sleep-out event in Kirby Park, which is designed to raise awareness of homelessness.

“Many years ago, Father John Patraska of Misericordia allowed the men from our shelter to utilize the first floor of McHale dorm. It was great,” he said.  The women residing in McHale Hall made sandwiches for the men late at night, offered up their meals, and taught them how to create resumes.

There is a growing need to lend a hand to these men. Last year, VISION provided shelter to 30 to 35 men each day. This year the shelters are housing more than 50 men per night. The program has recently acquired seven new locations, which increases the number to 40.

Kabacinski said there are many ways students can help. The staff of The Highlander has agreed to translate the shelters’ paperwork into Spanish. Although the shelter could use a new washer and dryer, Kabacinski believes that hands-on activities, such as creating resumes and building relationships, would be more beneficial for the men.

As a part of homelessness and hunger awareness week on campus, students were able to experience homelessness during a week of scheduled events, from Nov. 15 to 19 which included a walk, hunger banquet, hunger fast and a sleep out in the amphitheater. An Ecumenical Prayer Service, Thanksgiving dinner and a showing of the movie “The Soloist” ended the week-long activities.

To work with The Highlander in this volunteer effort, contact highland@misericordia.edu.