The Rotary Club of the Santa Clarita Valley is inviting all veterans who have served our country since Sept. 11 to join them in the celebration of the opening of the Veteran’s Center at College of the Canyons.
This special event will allow veterans the chance to meet other veterans as well as Rotarians who want to honor their service while also offering support, advice, and assistance to those facing the transition from military to civilian life.
Jim Lentini, Rotary Club member, said that the opening of the veteran’s center is the next step in their project to support local veterans who need assistance in planning for tomorrow.
“The purpose of the project is to help our veterans transition from military life to civilian life,” said Lentini.
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According to the director of veteran’s affairs at College of the Canyons, there are more than 400 veterans registered at COC. Lentini says that the biggest help they need is to be made aware of the veteran programs they offer at COC and also for someone to reach out and help them to adjust back into society because he says the change can be quite dramatic.
“The average soldier is 19 and a half years old,” said Lentini, “These guys have gone into combat, left home right out of high school, and when they come back, they don’t go home to their parents. They are adults now.”
The veteran’s center will be the place for other veterans to meet, but also where the Rotary Club will host their numerous workshops that might include how to apply for loans and jobs. The center will also have financial planners to assist veterans in learning how to balance a checking or savings account and how to plan for the next part of their lives.
“We will help them do a lot of things they do not know how to do,” Lentini said.
The event will be held at College of the Canyons at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road on
November 16 at noon.
Lunch will be provided and reservations are required.
To RSVP for this event, call (661) 251-5086 or E-mail rotaryvet@socal.rr.com.