LOONIE DRIVE TO SUPPORT DARE PROGRAMS

A Valentine can be so much more than candy or flowers.

It can be a gift of love to the community at large and, this month the
School District 33 DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is looking
for tangible signs of just such affection.

DARE coordinators Const. Dee Gramolini and Const. Donna Collins have begun a
public Loonie Drive for DARE.

"It's a chance for everyone to be pro-active in the effort to keep kids away
from drugs," says Const. Collins. "And, when the kids see that complete
strangers are willing to come forward to help ensure they get the
information they need to stay safe, it means all that much more to them."

And the visible backing has been made easy.

"All anyone has to do, is stop in at an elementary school during regular
class time, and donate a dollar or two to the cause," says Const. Collins.

And rest assured every dollar counts. It costs $250 to sponsor a single
Grade 6 class for the 17 weeks of the DARE program. And with School District
33 boasting 34 Grade 6 classes, the total per year mounts quickly.

"We're still fundraising for this term and of course, we are already looking
forward to what's required for next year," says Const. Collins. This is the
fourth year for the DARE program in Chilliwack. It has had major backing
from Save-On-Foods as well as from Stream International, the Rotary Club of
Chilliwack, the Optimists, and a number of other service clubs.

But there's a long way to go.

"It's getting harder and harder to raise funds," admits Const. Collins. "And
of course Const. Gramolini and I would rather use our time teaching the kids
than trying to gain financial backing for this very-important program."

To its detractors Const. Collins points out that the success of DARE can be
difficult to measure. The course is all about alcohol, tobacco, marijuana
and other drug-related topics.

"Alcohol and tobacco are legal, but there are consequences for abusing
them," says Const. Collins. "Even if marijuana is legalized, that won't
change the consequences of abusing it."

Students who have taken the DARE course often return to say they are glad of
it. The information with which they were armed helped them make the right
choice in the face of temptation.

"For every kid whose gotten in to a situation where he or she made the right
choice to not do drugs, DARE has been a success," proclaims Const. Collins.
"Drugs are a problem everywhere and it's up to each one of us to be
proactive in our fight against them."

And part of that fight; part of the DARE program, is parent involvement.
Parents are always welcome to sit in on DARE classes. Printed information on
each lesson is also available As well, each school's PAC will host a
Parent's Night to give an outline of the DARE program as a whole.

"We (RCMP officers) are glad to be part of the daily life in the elementary
schools," concludes Const. Collins. "We're proud to back DARE and our
presence in the schools makes for good community relations -- great steps in
promoting a crime-free, drug-free community."

NOTE: The Grade 6 class raising the most money in the Loonie Drive for DARE
campaign will win a pizza party with its DARE instructor.