Prince George, B.C. – What is one of the best gifts you could give to a person, in fact a great number of people, you have never met?

Well, how about your use of the services of Operation Red Nose after consuming alcohol during the coming holiday season?

Yes once again the people who put together this invaluable service are looking for
volunteers for their 2015 campaign, the 18^th year it has been offered in Prince George.  The designated driving service available during the holiday season relies on an army of volunteers to help keep Prince George roads safe.

“We need about 350 volunteers to help us this year to ensure we can meet the demand for rides we expect during the holidays,” said Operation Red Nose spokesperson Andrea Johnson. “Our volunteers who return year after year have a great time knowing they’ve made a difference in the community. We guarantee new volunteers will feel the same way.”

Volunteers must be 19 years old and have a valid driver’s license. They can be part of a road team of three or work behind the scenes answering phones at Operation Red Nose headquarters.

Applications, which include a Criminal Record Check form, are now available online at www.ornpg.ca. Volunteers can simply fill it out, print it out and take it, along with their driver’s license, to the RCMP detachment on Victoria Street.

The free, seasonal service, organized by the Rotary Club of Prince George – Nechako, in partnership with the RCMP and ICBC, allows party-goers to not only get themselves home safely, but their vehicles too.

On average, about 15 road teams of three will be on call each night of service, working from 9 p.m. – 3 a.m. This year, Operation Red Nose will be in service Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 4 and 5, Dec. 11 and 12, Dec. 18 and 19 and New Year’s Eve.

Operation Red Nose Prince George will be at CN Centre at the Prince George Cougars game against Calgary on Wednesday, Oct. 21^st.   and at the Coliseum Oct. 23^rd  when the Prince George Spruce Kings play the Coquitlam Express.

“We’ll have a table set up at both games where volunteers can apply online as well as information about the 2015 campaign,” said Johnson.

Those who require more information about how they can help are asked to call volunteer co-ordinator Karen Toombs at 250-961-6465.

In 2014, 1,1,23 safe rides home in nine nights were provided which ranked Prince George second overall out of 13 communities in B.C. It equaled the total set in 2010, the best-ever to date. Last year, the 10,000^th ride in the 17-year history of the service in Prince George was also delivered, which occurred just before midnight on New Year’s Eve.