Operation Red Nose is Back For Another Season

Saturday, November 26, 2005 01:02 PM

"Last call before you hit the road!" That's the slogan behind the national Operation Red Nose Campaign entering its 22nd annual campaign tonight.

Here in Prince George, the Nechako Rotary club has offering the holiday chauffeur service for the past five years.

Spokesperson, Laura Williams, says starting this evening and running Friday and Saturday nights in December, city residents can phone 960-RIDE (7433) if they'd like a ride home. Williams says three volunteers will come to pick you up and will transport you, and your vehicle, home.

Williams says it's a free, confidential service that she urges people to use even if they're just worried about poor winter driving conditions. She says 100-percent of donations go towards youth activities in the city. "We try to raise as much money as we can and it's our major fundraiser."

"Last year, alone, we raised $20,000.00, " says Williams, "That was giving people rides home -- we did 413 rides -- as well as sponsorships for the event raised throughout the year."

And the local organizers are hoping to build on that this year, she says, "We've actually been active in trying to seek out where office parties are happening throughout the holiday season and, if they're happening on the same nights as we're operating then we're able to coordinate a few more volunteers to have on-hand to take care of people who are going to the larger parties."

The service is available between 9pm and 3am.