Another weekend, another successful Operation Red Nose campaign in Burnaby.
It's the first year of the program in Burnaby and the numbers keep on getting better.
On Dec. 14 and 15, 13 Burnaby volunteers provided 36 safe rides home for people who were out having fun.
In neighbouring New Westminster, the numbers were also very good, as volunteers from the New Westminster Police Department propped up the volunteer numbers to 26 people, who offered 19 rides to people.
In the Tri-Cities, the numbers were even more staggering, as 104 volunteers offered 168 rides.
In total, the volunteer-based designated driving service saw 143 volunteers provide 223 rides, eclipsing the record of 140 rides, which was set in 2011 when the service was only offered in the Tri-Cities.
"We had some great support from the New Westminster Police and their volunteers," Chris Wilson, Operation Red Nose coordinator said in a press release. "We had 21 of them out on Saturday and it made a huge difference."
"It's been great to see how the rides in New Westminster and Burnaby have taken off. After only 6 nights, we've done 131. Our first year in the Tri-Cities, we did 107 rides over all nine nights."
This Friday night is the City of Burnaby night and Wilson is expecting at least fifteen employees, councilors and Mayor Derek Corrigan out taking a turn driving people home. "We had fantastic support from the cities of New Westminster and Burnaby and also Metropolis at Metrotown in getting the program established this year. It's been really amazing."
According to Malcolm Kennedy, Operation Red Nose's volunteer coordinator, volunteers are still needed for New Year's Eve, traditionally the busiest night of the year. "Why not ring in the New Year having fun while and making a difference in your community. It's a lot cheaper than going out and you won't wake up with a hangover.
"It's really easy to become a volunteer, but the process can take a bit of time, so if anyone's interested, we ask that you act quickly. If you're not interested in driving, we can also use some help answering the phones and dispatching."
Operation Red Nose is a free, seasonal service which runs between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. for the next two weekends and New Year's Eve.
Those wanting a ride can call 778-866-6673. Pre-booking is not possible. To volunteer, email [email protected].
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