MILITARY

Many services available, including free classes

George W. Reilly Special to The Journal

Veterans’ Journal column contributors should email 2019 meeting calendars and event notices to ensure inclusion in 2019 columns at the appropriate time throughout next year. Meeting calendars must be renewed each year and should be sent by email to VeteransColumn@gmail.com. If you have already sent in your meeting calendars for 2019, thank you and enjoy your holidays.

Veterans’ notices

— To assist veterans in navigating benefits and other services available to them, the Woonsocket Harris Public Library, 303 Clinton St., will host two Saturday informational outreach service sessions, on Dec. 15 and Jan. 12, from 10 to 11 a.m., in the library's main program room. Tim McGorty, City of Woonsocket veterans service adviser, will be there to answer questions and assist veterans through the benefits process. For more information, contact McGorty at (401) 830-2599 or email him at woonsocket.vets@gmail.com.

— The Providence VA Medical Center, on Chalkstone Avenue, needs volunteer Red Jacket Ambassador volunteers to greet veterans and visitors at the hospital’s main entrance, provide directions and other information, and escort them to appointments if they need assistance. Anyone interested in donning the red vest can obtain an application by calling Voluntary Services at (401) 273-7100, ext. 3002, or visiting the PVAMC volunteer page at www.providence.va.gov/giving/index.asp.

— Help Operation Stand Down Rhode Island bring some holiday cheer to veterans' families this holiday season. Operation Stand Down will be collecting gift cards at its headquarters, 1010 Hartford Ave. in Johnston, until Dec. 17 to help offset financial struggles, which tend to arise at this time of year. Gift card donations will be given to veterans’ families that need help this holiday season. These donations give families the freedom and dignity to shop for loved ones on their own. For more information, call Jessica Miller at (401) 383-4730.

Free humanities classes for college credit

Mark Santow, an American history professor at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth who lives in Providence, has directed a program called the Clemente Course in the Humanities for the past 14 years in New Bedford. Clemente is a national program that provides free, seminar-style humanities classes for college credit to people dealing with economic insecurity.

Santow recently received a large grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to create a Clemente Course for veterans in Providence. Tuition is free, along with childcare and transportation.

Classes run from Jan. 24 through early May and will be held at Trinity Repertory Co., at 45 Aborn St. Classes will take place on Monday and Thursday evenings, from 6 to 8 p.m. The program is open to all veterans regardless of discharge status, although Santow hopes to especially reach those veterans having difficulty transitioning from their service time back to the community. Student veterans can earn three credits without using any VA benefits. Childcare is available for free, with experienced educators from Trinity Rep providing drama games and instruction for the kids.

Interested veterans can apply online, request a paper application, or reach out to Santow at pvdclementevets@gmail.com or (401) 480-6664. His website is clementecourse.org/about-us/veterans/providence-clemente. The mail address is Clemente Veterans’ Initiative-Providence, 203 Rochambeau Ave., Providence RI 02906. Donations are welcome.

Santow, an associate professor and the History chair at UMass-Dartmouth, and a member of the Providence School Board since 2015, is connected to the Veterans Community Task Force through the VA and the Veterans' Education Committee, and is planning on expanding the program here with another, larger grant so that it continues into the future.

Send veterans’ meeting and news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@gmail.com

Meetings

— The Rhode Island House Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10, Room 135, R.I. State House, Smith Street, Providence.

— Veterans of Foreign Wars: Gatchell Post 306 Auxiliary, 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket; Post 916, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, 155 High St., South Kingstown; Lymansville Memorial Post 10011, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, 354 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence; Kelley-Gazzerro Post 2812, 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston.

— Vietnam Veterans of America Greater Providence Chapter 273, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston.

— Korean War Veterans Association: Northern R.I. Chapter 3, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, Glocester Senior Center, 1210 Putnam Pike, Chepachet. All service veterans, guests and new members are welcome; refreshments to follow meeting.

— U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: Flotilla 72, 7 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 12, USCG Sector Southeastern New England office, 20 Risho Ave., East Providence; Providence Flotilla 78, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, Aspray Boathouse, 2 East View St., Warwick.

— Disabled American Veterans Mount Pleasant Chapter 21, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, Dillon Council Knights of Columbus, 1675 Douglas Ave., North Providence.

— Pawtucket Veterans Council, 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, Gatchell VFW Post 306, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket.

— U.S. Navy Seabee Veterans of America Island X-1 Davisville, 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, Seabee Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown.

— Fleet Reserve Branch 42, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, Seabee Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown.