Prince George, B.C. – Wearing party masks, boas, and waving sparklers,    Operation Red Nose team members officially kicked off their 2013 campaign this morning, with the theme “Come Party with Us.”

 

 “If you like late nights, meeting new people and contributing to the road safety of your community, then you should consider volunteering for Operation Red Nose,” said Andrea Johnson, Operation Red Nose spokesperson. “We’re encouraging sports organizations, community groups and businesses to come and spend a night volunteering with us and have a great time.”

 

Operation Red Nose is a free, confidential, designated driving service organized by the Rotary Club of Prince George Nechako in partnership with the RCMP and ICBC.

 

The first night of service begins Friday, Nov. 29 and continues nine nights, Nov. 30, Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, and New Year’s Eve.

 

While this is the 15^th season for Operation Red Nose in Prince George, nationally, the program has been providing safe, free rides home for 30 years.

 

But it can’t happen without volunteers, “We need about 350 volunteers this year in Prince George to help us deal with the demand for rides,” Johnson said. “It’s easy to apply. Volunteers can go online to our website, www.ornpg.ca and fill out an application form. They just print that off and drop it off at the Community Policing office on 5^th and Brunswick.”

 

Volunteers can be designated drivers, navigators and operate phones out of Operation Red Nose headquarters. On average, about 15 teams of three will be on call each night of service, working from 8 p.m. – 3 a.m.

 

While the service is free, those who   use the service often make donations, and those dollars will stay in the community to support local sports groups and activities.