WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — For anyone looking for plans this weekend, a lineup of artists is set to perform at the Kirby Center, all to benefit a local nonprofit in Wilkes-Barre.
Teaching patients how to use medication is all part of the job for Erica Mabry, working as a clinical pharmacist for Volunteers in Medicine.
“We typically see patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, COPD.” . . . “We walk them through how to live with these conditions, but then also try to help find resources for affordable medications for these conditions.”
Volunteers in Medicine, also known as VIM, is not your typical doctor's office in Wilkes-Barre, it’s a one-stop shop for working, low-income families in need of medical care, dental, behavioral health, and much more, at no cost.
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“It’s estimated about 30,000 people could be uninsured in Luzerne County and research shows that three times that amount could not have dental insurance,” says Kelly Ranieli.
Many of the patients haven’t been seen by a medical professional in years.
“We uncover a lot of mental health issues, a lot of dental issues, and a lot of medical issues that just are very complex and have to be treated in order to prevent more complications,” says Dr. Frances Feudale.
Running into barriers that exceed just their health.
“Some of them are transportation barriers, language barriers, food barrier is a big problem in our community… that’s why we created our food pantry and we are able to give our patients grocery every other Monday,” says Nurse Angie Peters.
Meeting these goals to impact the community doesn’t happen overnight. It requires tons of fundraising, and that’s why VIM is holding a special concert at the F. M. Kirby Center featuring Haley Reinhart to benefit the nonprofit.
“That is the absolute only way that we can operate and we could provide these services and we can continuously increase access to care," says Ranieli.
That concert kicks off at 6 p.m. this Sunday the 16th.
If you’d like to buy tickets for the Volunteers in Medicine special concert on Sunday, you can head to Ticketmaster or purchase them at the F.M. Kirby Center.
