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The students at the Kâ€"W Montessori school on Bridgeport Road collected more than 100 Santa sacks for Family and Children‘s Services of Waterloo Region, and donated them to families in need last week. Some of the students even sewed the sacks of goodies and staples needed, such as toothpaste and diapers. Some of Santa‘s little helpers were (front row) Dylan, Sydnie, Nolan, Dawson, (middle row} Juliana, Sarah, {back row) Victoria, Prescilla and Dana. mnesen s WLU to increase sameâ€"sex awareness ilfrid Laurier Uniâ€" W'ersit_v has received a $50,000 grant to expand and standardize two programs it developed to increase awareness of sameâ€" sex and genderâ€"diversity issues and to safeguard members of those commuâ€" nities. The grant was awarded by the Ontario Victim Serâ€" vices Secretariat of the province‘s Ministry of the Attorney General. The secreâ€" tariat works in partnership with _ communityâ€"based agencies and organizations to develop projects, proâ€" grams and services that benefit victims in Ontario. The grant will be used to produce a DVT that outlines how campuses can easily implement an alternativeâ€" reporting procedure and a positiveâ€"space training proâ€" gram. It will be based on Laurier‘s experience and input provided during a twoâ€"hour session at the Canadian University Queer Services Conference in Ottawa from Jan. 13â€"15. The DVD will include a case study of the Laurier experiâ€" ence, adoption pathway, trainer‘s manual. promoâ€" tional material, vignettes, participants‘ manual and evaluation tools. Positiveâ€"space programs seek to raise awareness, enhance knowledge and provide skills that reduce heterosexism and homoi/transphobia at both the individual and instituâ€" tional levels. The goal is to create settings in which Sm . of Runners . . . Not Just End Rolls * Carpet * Berbers + Laminate + Ceramic * Hardwood 50 Victoria Street N., Kitchener + 570â€"2722 || _ Canada‘s largest retail flooring chain! _ |‘ Filling their Santa sacks LIFESTYLE people learn to respect and accept others regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression. Most existing programs support alternaâ€" tive students on campuses across North America. Lauâ€" rier‘s program is among the first in Canada to include staff and faculty members. After completing the required fraining program. positive space participants post a sticker at the entrance to their work, livâ€" ing or study space. The stickers, or a button they can choose to wear, indicate they support the alternative community and can provide information or referrals to anyone in need. Close to 360 members of the Laurier community have undergone training since the program The Area‘s LARGEST Selection launched last year. Just over 320 agreed to display the sticker or wear the buttons. The alternativeâ€"reporting procedure provides an online form that allows peoâ€" ple to anonymously report events they believe are motivated by intolerance or hatred towards members of the alternative community. It ensures that timely action is taken by appropriate groups and removes the potential for secondary vicâ€" timization by ensuring conâ€" fidentiality. In its first year, the new procedure has proven a more accessible vehicle for reporting than traditional mechanisms. For more information contact Kimberly Ellisâ€"Hale, project manager. at 883â€" 4103. BOB VRBANAT PHOTO Meet and greet for a Waterloo Minor Sports Show:â€" case Day. On Jan. 7, the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex and RIM Park will host numerous interactive sport activities. offered by Waterloo Minor Sport groups. Volunteers will provide visitor "passports," or give directions to various field, court. ice or water sports demonstrations. Responsible teens 16 or older or adults are needed for fourâ€"hour volunteer shitts. /1 you can help, contact Darren at 885â€"1220, ext. 227. Share the energy of newborns to sixâ€"vearâ€"olds in a YMCA program. Volunteers will be asked to assist in playtime and social interaction between the child, parent or caregiver. This program runs Tuesday and Thursday morning for two hours. Individuals 15 years of alder can call Nathalie at 743â€"5201, ext 227 or eâ€" mail nkrunys@kwymea.org . Iwentyâ€"one organizations in Waterloo, Wellington and Dufferin will receive $1,410,300 in grants from the Ontario Trilltum Foundation (OTF]. These grants assist in building strong and vibrant communities that reflect Ontario‘s rich diversity. The announcement was made recent by Minister of Culture Madeleine Meilleur. "Newcomers and people of all abilities and backâ€" grounds contribute to their communities and actively seek to build their own future," said Minister Meilleur. "With OTF funding, community organizations enhance prospects for employment and economic potential for workers and their families. OTF grants strengthen communities and assist with job skills training for newcomers, people from minority comâ€" munities and individuals with disabilities." "Community organizations, together with OTE creâ€" ate social and economic opportunities that remove barriers, celebrate diversity, and help those who need a hand to participate in the life of their community," said Donald Bourgeois, grant review team chair. In Waterloo, Wellington and Dufferin, OTF grants make a difference. The Dufferin Social Prosperity Proâ€" ject will receive $42,000 over 14 months to design. test and implement a grassroots prosperity action plan. This initiative will mobilize community leaders and rural citizens across eight townships to increase the social prosperity of Dufferin County. Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support will be awarded $38,600 over one year for a broadâ€"based organizational review and strategic planning process. It will clarify roles. responsibilities and strategic direcâ€" tions for a newly incorporated refugee support proâ€" gram in Kitchener. OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities throughout Ontario by strengthening the capacity of the voluntary sector, through investments in commuâ€" nityâ€"based initiatives. The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives $100 miltion annually from Ontario‘s charity casino initiative. Volunteer opportunities fill the new year Local groups see grants 3 Vitness St N <A a 2