VITAL House

The Following is a transcript of Patrick Frank`s 11 p.m. story. VITAL STANDS FOR VOCATIONAL AND INDEPENDENCE TRAINING FOR ADULT LIFE. VITAL HOUSE IS RUN BY THE HAZLETON SCHOOL DISTRICT. TONIGHT, PARENTS LEARNED ABOUT WHAT THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS DO AFTER SCHOOL. TAKE PKG 19-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER BARTENOPE KNOWS THE BENEFITS OF VITAL HOUSE IN HAZLETON. HE GRADUATED LAST YEAR AND IS NOW WORKING AT GIANT. "Working with other people helps us get into the workforce." ABOUT 50 STUDENTS GO TO VITAL HOUSE EACH DAY FOR 4 HOURS AFTER SCHOOL. THESE STUDENTS HAVE DIFFERENT DISABILITIES. BUT HERE THEY LEARN TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT...AND DO THINGS LIKE MANAGE CHECKING ACCOUNTS AND GET GROCERIES. "Our work here is not paperwork. It`s look at our work...we cook the meal, we clean the house, we settle for a gathering." Says Bernadette Jespersen, a VITAL House Teacher ¶THE STUDENTS ARE BETWEEN 18 AND 21 YEARS OLD AND ARE USUALLY LEAVING HIGH SCHOOL. VITAL HOUSE IS HERE TO MAKE THE TRANSITION EASIER, AND AT THIS OPEN HOUSE STUDENTS` PARENTS SEE WHAT THE WORK IS ALL ABOUT. SOMETIMES THE PARENTS ARE STUNNED BY THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. "I came in the one time and he was making cup cakes. I was like, wow, you know." Cathy Biechec, Parent told 28 news. NOW VITAL HOUSE IS ASKING FOR A LITTLE HELP. IT`S LOOKING FOR GRANTS AND DONATIONS TO REPAIR THE ROOF AND THE KITCHEN. THE GROUP`S BEEN IN THIS HOUSE FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS, AND WANTS TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BETTER. "Expectations might be raised after our conversations tonight." IN THE FUTURE, VITAL HOUSE IS LOOKING TO START OVERNIGHT SHIFTS AND OUT-OF-TOWN TRIPS TO HELP STUDENTS WITH THEIR TRANSITION OUT-OF-SCHOOL.