Community colleges are helping with housing, gas, and food to keep students in class

Free tuition programs might entice students to enroll in community college, but they do little to help those who may be dealing with their own financial, transportation, or child-care barriers. From handing out grocery gift cards to loaning out laptops, two community colleges in rural Southwest Virginia are helping students not just enroll but also complete their programs so they can earn degrees and certificates to boost their earning potential.