Salmon Creek American Legion provides dental care for college vets

Salmon Creek — The American Legion Post 176 recently provided Clark College Foundation with a $10,000 gift in support of military veterans attending Clark College. The support will assist student veterans with the cost of basic dental care, as well as provide for a veteran emergency fund, materials for recruiting veterans to Clark College and promotion of Clark’s Veterans Resource Center. “The veteran members of the Salmon Creek American Legion Post 176 are extremely happy to help our young veterans with this support. It is our way of showing our thanks for serving our country,” said member Phil Yasson, in a press release about the gift. There were 622 veterans enrolled at Clark College this fall, with nearly 400 using military education benefits. Local or federal military benefits do not cover all of the health care needs of veterans, such as dental care needs that aren’t related to a veteran’s service. The American Legion gift allows student veterans to receive cleanings, assessments, X-rays, and some restorative procedures such as fillings. The support will also add to Clark’ Veterans Resource Center emergency fund, which assists Clark student veterans in crisis with such issues as homelessness, eviction, domestic violence and drug and alcohol addiction.