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Temporary closure raises questions of St. Vincent de Paul Society leadership
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
A note on the door at St. Vincent de Paul Society says the dining hall will remain closed today because of “unforeseen circumstances.”
But that’s not the case for volunteers, clients and others who have watched a variety of circumstances develop that led to Monday’s closure.
“It’s a personnel issue,” said Brian J. Antal, president of St. Vincent de Paul Society- Mahoning District, without going into further detail of what he calls a temporary closure of the dining hall.
On Friday, Ralph “Skip” Barone, manager of the kitchen, resigned after 15 years of serving meals to the needy at the soup kitchen on Front Street downtown.
Barone worked as a manager for 13 years.
Though he did not want to get into the details of the reason for his resignation, he did say he would go back even if it were just to train someone.
“I operated the kitchen in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul,” Barone said.
Volunteers at the kitchen would agree with him, which is why they have decided to follow him.
“All the Wednesday and Thursday crew is not going back until the president of St. Vincent de Paul is no longer in charge and Skip is back,” said Allen Wasylychyn, an eight-year volunteer at the dining hall.
In total, about 25 volunteers have decided to wait it out until leadership changes are made.
“I want to see Mr. Antal resign and have a new president in charge. That’s what would be the best situation, so Mr. Skip Barone can run his kitchen how he has for the last 15 years,” Wasylychyn said.
On Monday afternoon, Antal said the kitchen would not be open to serve about 200 to 250 people for lunch.
When asked about the volunteers walking out, Antal said he was “not aware of that.”
“It’s a personnel matter,” he repeated. “I cannot comment on personnel issues.”
Under Antal’s leadership, changes many volunteers didn’t agree with were made, Wasylychyn said. Oftentimes, when someone disabled couldn’t make it down to the hall for lunch, the soup kitchen would wrap up a hot meal and send it with a neighbor or friend.
Volunteers say they were told to stop sending home meals because they were giving away too many and there wasn’t enough funding to continue that practice.
Last year, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley dropped the St. Vincent de Paul Society kitchen as one of its programs because of certain policies. Signs were posted, multiple sources said by Antal, informing those who work or volunteer there that they were not allowed to eat the food offered, which then led to food waste.
“To withhold food from them is not what we do,” said Michael Iberis, food bank executive director. “Our mission here is to provide food for hungry people. We monitor how food is used and how clients are served.”
Second Harvest wasn’t pleased with some of the society’s operations, which led the administration there to end the program with the society in July 2014. For years, Second Harvest requested an audit from the society and never received one.
“We weren’t pleased with the way the food was used, how the clients were served and with their lack of transparency and fiscal responsibility,” Iberis said.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society has continued to remain the lunch spot for many people. Some are homeless and some just need an extra meal here or there to help them get by.
On Monday morning, a crowd of clients gathered for their lunch to find the note on the door. In the crowd was 37-year-old David Kopnitsky, a usual face there.
Kopnitsky doesn’t hide that he has a criminal record. He’s been out of jail for about 30 days after an assault charge. But he’s trying to stay on his feet and not fall back down the wrong path.
When he found out the place where he went every morning for a warm meal, cup of coffee and a piece of hope was temporarily closed, he became emotional.
“It’s been central to my life,” he said.
Outside the society’s entrance at 208 Front St. on Monday afternoon, Kopnitsky, homeless and humble, dressed in a Superman zip-up hoodie and winter hat, talked about what the society has done for him the past 15 years he has been going there.
“This is the main lunch hub in the city,” he said. “It gives you a boost to get back. You feel happy to come here and see and talk to people. You develop a rapport and a relationship. It’s very positive.”
It’s unclear when the kitchen will reopen for the weekday lunches, but the note on the door posted Monday said the Saturday breakfast program and the Open Arms Outreach Program will continue as scheduled.
“The society is working to reopen the dining hall as quickly as possible in order to serve our community,” the note signed by Antal read.