Carson City area Veterans of America chapter donates $4K for WNC vets center
Submitted by editor on Sun, 01/06/2019 - 12:58pm
CARSON CITY — The motto at the Veterans Resource Center at Western Nevada College is “Veterans Helping Veterans.” For the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America the rallying cry is “One Generation of Veterans Passing It on to The Next.”
In its ongoing efforts to support the next generation of America’s war veterans and serve its community, Vietnam Veterans of America Carson Area Chapter 388 has made a $4,000 donation to Western Nevada College’s Veterans Resource Center.
“It’s a neat place to invest our funds,” said Tom Spencer, president of the local chapter of the VVA. “The Veterans Resource Center helps provide futures to a lot of vets; with their education they can progress, improve their careers and the lives of their families.”
“Everyone benefits from people who are educated,” said Jack McQuirk, a treasurer of the VVA’s local chapter and a veteran who spent six months of his two-year enlistment in North Vietnam with a Naval team that rescued downed pilots.
WNC has more than 200 veterans attending classes, many of whom are utilizing the many services the VRC has provided veterans since it opened in 2013. The VRC’s primary focus is helping veterans and their families transition to higher education.
“This donation brings a tear to my eye because Vietnam veterans weren’t thought about when they came home. No parades, no thank-yous, no apologies,” said 2018 WNC Veterans Resource Coordinator Kevin Burns.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the VVA for this generous donation,” said Niki Gladys, Executive Director of the WNC Foundation. “Donations like this help us to continue to support our veteran students by providing important on-campus resources that will help them succeed in school and, ultimately, in life.”
The local chapter of the VVA also has created programs that assist veterans with dental care, homelessness, food and transportation. McQuirk said that it’s difficult to help many veterans who are struggling in their lives because the barrier is drawing them out of their isolated situations.
“We’re here to help them reach out to us and another group they can ask for help,” McQuirk said.
The VVA Chapter 388 meets every first Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the Veterans Hall on Curry and Second streets. Learn more about the nonprofit group at www.vva388.com.
Veterans can learn more about WNC’s Veterans Resource Center by phoning 775-445-3302. Those wishing to support veterans in their educational pursuits can contact the WNC Foundation Office at 775-445-3240.
In the Photo: The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 388 presents a $4,000 check to Western Nevada College on Wednesday, Dec. 12. From left to right are Jack McQuirk, treasurer for the VVA Chapter 388; Kevin Burns, 2018 Coordinator of the WNC Veterans Resource Center; Tom Spencer, president of Carson Area Chapter 388 of the VVA; Niki Gladys, Executive Director of the WNC Foundation; and Brenda Horton, a VVA member.
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