The Volunteer Voice
E-Newsletter
January 3, 2019

You are cordially invited...

Annual Appreciation Luncheon
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
11:30am to 2:00pm
Westmoreland Club


Mark Your Calendar and Invitations are on the Way


Welcome to Our New Students
Candace Verona is a nursing student from Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center. She chose to volunteer at VIM to help the public and gain clinical experience. She hopes to practice wound care in a long term care setting or a clinic.

Azra Bilinovic is also a nursing student from Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center. She intends on becoming an Licensed Practical Nurse and work in a long term care or hospital setting.
Thank you from a Student
Sezen Uslan  is a Physician Assistant student at Misericordia University who recently completed her rotation at VIM. She provided the staff and volunteers a beautiful cake on her last day of the rotation.
VIM's Volunteer Holiday Party
VIM hosted the 2019 Volunteer Holiday Party on Friday, December 13 at the clinic. Many volunteers stopped in through out the day for some great food and drinks. The holiday party is a very small token to say thank you for all the support throughout the year that is provided by the volunteers. The majority of volunteers have been involved with the clinic since it's inception eleven years ago!!

Vaping: A Public Health Epidemic
On Friday December 6 th , Darcie Schaffer , Dental Director and Dr. Frances Feudale , Medical Director attended a conference called “Vaping: A Public Health Epidemic” sponsored by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Wellness Coalition.  

While tobacco prevention and control programs have reduced smoking rates to historically low levels (approximately 7%), the American Lung Association states e-cigs or vaping has increased to almost 27%.   This recent rise in vaping is thought to be due to several factors. First is the assumption that vaping is not addicting. Unfortunately, the opposite is true! Because the nicotine contained in the liquid “pods” is chemically altered, it is more concentrated and thus, more quickly enters the brain which results in addiction after just 2 weeks of vaping. In addition, this chemical alteration eliminates the burning cessation felt in the nose, mouth, throat and lungs when inhaled therefore removing this unpleasant side effect of “smoking” that many encounter when first trying a regular cigarette. This gives the false impression that vaping is safer because its “just water vapor” you are inhaling. In fact, this is not just water vapor but an aerosol which can contain microfine metallic fragments, carcinogens, varying amounts of nicotine and other substances such as Vitamin E acetate, the ingredient thought to be one of the causes of Vaping Related Lung Injury (VALI) that has killed one person in Pennsylvania and 47 others across the US. Secondly, th e addition of flavors such as cotton candy and buttered popcorn makes it particularly attractive to young people. Last, but not least, vaping products come in many designs some of which look like USB ports, pens and key fobs and other designs which lend themselves to being easily conceale d like asthma inhalers and strings on a hooded sweatshirt. These high-tech vaping products are also very appealing.
So what can be done to put a halt to this epidemic? Currently, federal and state lawmakers are looking to pass laws raising the minimum age to purchase and use all tobacco products (including vaping), implementing stricter policies in schools for students caught smoking or vaping which includes education and addiction counseling , and banning the sale of flavored tobacco products. However, there is much more to be done.
Save the Date
Upcoming Educational Community In-Services
Learning about other Luzerne County  community agencies in order to refer patients  is one of the many ways that VIM provides case management services. All in-services are from  9:00 am to 10:00 am  and are held at the clinic. If you would like to join us for the next presentation, please  RSVP to April  at  april-vimwb@hotmail.com  or call 570-970-2864.
 Tuesday, January 14th
2020 U.S. Census
Presented by Katie Derhammer

Purchase A Paver Form
February of 2020 will be the  100 Year Anniversary  of the original Lee’s Garage that now houses Volunteers in Medicine. Don’t miss your chance to etch your name in history! Purchase a paver that will be installed in the Spring around the border of the new parking lot.
Donate to VIM
VIM is not a federally-funded clinic and does not charge for services . The clinic operates solely from donations from businesses and individuals, grants from foundations and proceeds from special events. Any contribution you are able to make assists VIM with keeping our low-income neighbors healthy, well and working .
Let's Get Social!
@VolunteersInMedicineWB
Volunteers  in  Medicine 
 190 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Wilkes-Barre PA 18702
Phone: 570-970-2864 | Fax: 570-970-2868
email: vimwb@hotmail.com
website www.vimwb.org