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Zonta Club saves day with huge gift to desperate women 's centre By WILMA BLOKHUIS Special ta The Champion The Womnen's Centre has received a $ 10,000 boost from the Oakville Zonta Club. That's enough money to, keep the doors open until the end of March, 2001. The centre, which lost ils Ontario Women's Directorate core funding of $45000- mostly tc cover rent - ait he end of September, has been scrambling tc0 tfind enough fiînding to continue operating. "We're desperate for money," says MMelvna Walter, co-director. "But I'm oplimistic that money will be found. 1 hope people will lhink about us at Christmas lime. The Ontario Women's Directorate cul our funding on only nine days notice." In ils quest for funding, the Womcn's Centre is circulaîing letters 10 be signed and sent 10 local MPs and MPPs, and also has a petilion that can be signed aI ils Hopedale Shopping Centre location in s uite 210. To date, between 200 and 300 people have signed the petition. "We've had quite s good response from the community," aaid Ms Walter, adding copies of the petitions and lelters can also be found in Oakville MPP Gary Carr's and Oakville MP Bonnie Brown's offices. Thel12 year-old centre serves approxi- malely 250 women montbly, who, are deal- ing with everything from abuse, separation and divorce 10, budgeting, career decisions snd re-cntcring the workforce - ail aI no charge. Ms Walter said the centre wss estab- lished 12 years ago 10, help women coming ouI of shelters, "but now we're seeing s lot "We're-desperate for umoney. But I'r optîi*tic that-mnsey will betfound. 1 hope people ill1 thiuk about us at Christmas Urne. Thentario Wornen's Directorate cut oor ftrnding on only nine days notime" of ctbnic women, wbo because of their background, won't go mbt a abelter, and women wiîh a bigb profile in the commu- niîy who won't go mbt a abelter. According 10 statistica, only 13 per cent of ail abuaed women ever goto, a abelter. "And, we're aecing women wiUi depres- sion, wbo arc coping wiUi the lots of loved onles, snd womcn who are going tbrough separation and divorce, plus runaway teens," ssid Ms Walter. "We're bclping a wide range of women." After bearing of thc Women's Cenlre's pligbl, Uic Oakville Zonta Club decided 10 give $10,000 bo Uic centre. "They do such a good job," said Jean Hsyncs of Uic Zonta Club, "yet tbey seem 10 be always short of. money. Tbey're alwaya struggling, and now their major funding bas been cul. "Their work fils in wiUi Zonla's mission statement to beîp Uic well being of women, 10 assiat tbem sociaîly, economically and with legal maltera. "The Women's Centre fala under the umbrella of the groupa we've tried to help, and they need il badly." The Zonta Club has always supported the Women's Centre, "but we've neyer given thera Ibis much money aI once." The club bas given the proceeda from its gîfî wrapping centre ai Hopedale 10 the Women's Centre for the past several yeara. This year's gift wrapping will atarI Thuraday snd continue until December 24 during shopping centre bours. The gifl wrapping will be donc in a vacant store- front beside the elevator. The Zonta Club donation came as the seven older members of thc group decided to pasa thc gavel on to ils; youngcr mcm- bers, said Ms Haynes. "Only îwo or three of us bave heen able 10, do the work. AIl of us arc gctting older snd we felt il was lime to move on (and let Uic youngcr members take over)." The club, for business sud profeasional women, is looking for more gift wrapping volunteers snd new members. Caîl Denise Ertainian aI 844-2355. The Women's Centre can be recced aI 847-9104 or 847-5520 for more informa- tion. Creahâéan<CKamo,nFrday, ôecembër 8, '2000-9* Please con-tribute fo The Champion's Christmas Bureau Fund for the Salvation Army to ensure everyone ha. a holiday with ait the trimmlngs. TH EAYWYT OE e p AL People say.. *'Véry pleased - fot 13 pounds' O'Lost many Inches and feel greatl» * *Wttt recommend It al my friands' O'Truy deighted wtth resutts' O 'Lant welght & kept Ifaof' O'Reached deslred wetght' * ttmpllt of patch surprisedi mu' AVAILABLE in MIILTON ai: Heath Equas DLS 160A Mais St. E. Ph. 871-2297 Lite Angets and Under the Stars 3 Milt St. Ph. 693-1219 Nutrition House (South Milton Malt) 55 Ontario Si. Ph. 693-8942 Second Nature 190 Mais St. E. Ph. 875-1342 Cali stores tirnt, if out of stock, rail us at I-800-333-7995 ON SAL SA' sEC 9 TO FR. 2 000 Wlk-barQ 'Tis The Seas * NO PYENS NO ITRSe. UNI A T OR' I 500£ OF. * JIIR U ECY ANALYSIS. * Sales and expert installation of Furnaces, Fireplaces, Hot Watler Heaters & Air Conditioners. * Maintenance Packages. * 24 Hour Emergency Service. CALL TOLL FREE S1488171 8u6466 îý ýU e ) o