Dental Hygienists Give Veterans a Smile :)
January 9, 2017
Two hundred and fifty armed services veterans were all smiles last month at FSC’s “Give a Veteran a Smile Day.” The event, organized by dental hygiene students wanting to express their gratitude to those who have served their country, was aimed at LI veterans who are 
homeless or living on limited means.
Each veteran received a Wellness Care Bag filled with oral hygiene products, deodorant, shampoo, body-wash, razors and healthy snacks. The bags also contained personalized “thank you for your service” notes handwritten by the students.
FSC faculty was represented by Professors Adele Spencer and Janet Gruber, and Dr. Maureen Capone. Eric Farina, Director of Veteran Affairs, briefed students on the need to help integrate veterans back into the community. Peter Bermont, U.S. Coast Guard; Mike Derossiers, U.S. Marine Corp; and Nathan Zwikelmaier, US Air Force – all members of FSC’s Student Veterans of America club – joined the dental hygiene students in assembling Wellness Care Bags.
“This event always proves to be an inspiration to our students as a venue to express their passion to help people,” said Professor Spencer.
Representatives from Beacon House, an organization that serves LI veterans, were on hand, along with supporters from Colgate Palmolive, GlaxoSmithKline, Dignity Memorial Funeral Homes and Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans of America.
