Community Foundation presents check to LCCC to fund a new V-SERF fund for Veterans/Reservists

The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation will present a check to the Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) Foundation at 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 16, in recognition of its recent five-year $50,000 grant to the college. The presentation will be in the college’s Veterans Lounge, which is located in Suite 4, on the lower level of the Student Services Center, main campus.

Bernard Story, president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, will present the check to LCCC Foundation Board chair Ellen Millard-Kern.

The community partnership grant will fund a new Veterans/Reservist’s Special Emergency Reserve Fund (V-SERF), providing $10,000 over five years. This will establish a dedicated emergency grant fund for veterans at LCCC in the event of a catastrophic personal incident or last minute changes that cannot be handled by the government-based veterans support program. The V-SERF fund will allow veterans to handle textbook purchases and other pertinent education expenses in the case of an emergency or late, unaccommodated change. Students will not be required to repay the V-SERF fund. Because many veterans have at least some funding going into the year, LCCC anticipates the V-SERF fund should be able to assist at least 20 students each year.

Examples of emergency situations include delays in veteran’s benefits or personal issues such as house fire, medical issues, loss of materials and books due to unforeseen or traumatic circumstances, changes in financial status, and even students left homeless. Veterans may apply for grants up to $1,000 once per academic year.

For additional information about this multi-year impact grant, contact LCCC’s Office of Returning Adult and Veteran Affairs at 610-799-1545.