Once again, Operation Red Nose will be up and running in the Battlefords during the coming holiday season.
Local Operation Red Nose volunteers with North Battleford Lions Club were at City Hall Monday along with Mayor Ian Hamilton, as they kicked off the campaign for the coming season.
Operation Red Nose is a national program that began in 1984. Local volunteers offer motorists who had a few drinks a safe drive home in their own vehicle during the holiday season.
The way it works is one volunteer will drive the vehicle home while a second car will follow right behind them to pick up the volunteer when the drive home is completed.
It was a well-used service during last year's holiday season.
"Last year we got 143 cars home," said Bill Bowman of North Battleford Lions, the host club for the Battlefords Operation Red Nose program.
"Hopefully they can expand upon that this year, too, so that we can get everybody home safe and sound."
The program was introduced in the Battlefords in 2009, making this the first community in the province to have the service. Since then Prince Albert has joined in Operation Red Nose and this year Saskatoon will be offering it for the first time.
The Operation Red Nose campaign also works as a fundraiser, with millions of dollars distributed nationally to non-profit youth or amateur sports organizations. Last year $5,000 was raised locally, which went to the Boys and Girls Club.
The rides themselves are offered free of charge, but they do accept donations, Bowman said. As well, local car dealerships will again be providing the follow-up cars that will be used during the campaign.
SGI is sponsoring Operation Red Nose in Saskatchewan.
The dates Operation Red Nose will be running are Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and 8, Dec. 14 and 15, Dec. 21 and 22, Dec. 29, and Dec. 31, running from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Bowman says they will be again looking for Operation Red Nose volunteers.
Anyone interested in volunteering you can call Bowman at 445-8720, Marc Bonneau at 446-0556, Gordon Mullett at 441-6431 or Merv Stepko at 441 2445.
