The Operation Red Nose Team for 2018 (supplied photo/David Schell)

By Keaton Brown

operation red nose

A program to get holiday party goers home safe is back for another year in the Battlefords.

Nov 19, 2019 | 10:00 AM

Holiday party season is right around the corner and Battlefords residents will be happy to hear Operation Red Nose is back for another year.

Now entering its eleventh year, Operation Red Nose is a designated driver service for residents of the Battlefords.

Chairperson for Operation Red Nose David Schell gave a brief description of how the program works.

“During the holiday season we provide people under the influence, or otherwise intoxicated people, a safe ride home and we also drive their vehicles home so they have their vehicles the next morning,” he said.

The program will offer rides in the Battlefords on Fridays and Saturdays starting on Nov.29 through Dec.21. It will also provide rides on New Year’s Eve.

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Schell said each year they have been fairly busy with rides. He estimates they give between 250 and 300 rides each year.

For the majority of the program’s history it has been operated by the Battlefords Lions Club, but for the last two years it has been run by KidSport.

Shell said KidSport was eager to have the opportunity to run the program after they had been its beneficiary the last few years.

“Previously KidSport was the beneficiary so all the funds raised from Operation Red Nose, whether that be corporate donations and sponsorships or the clients that use the service who provide donations [it all goes to KidSport],” he said.

“KidSport was very involved with lots of volunteers already a part of the program. When Lions Club approached us asking if someone else would be willing to take it on KidSport took that opportunity to make it our own,” he added.

Last year Operation Red Nose set a record with their biggest fundraising year so far with over $20,000 donated to KidSport.

Schell said that a program like Operation Red Nose would not be able to survive without the tremendous support they receive from the community and local businesses.

“We have awesome volunteers every year. Even the business community steps up, whether it is SIGA through the Gold Eagle Casino who are a major sponsor in both cash donations and drivers for the program. All nine nights they will have a team of driver’s who usually bring food which is always nice,” he said.

“Sasktel is also another big sponsor. All the local businesses like to contribute and are where we get over half our donations. The five local dealerships all step up too with vehicles and chase vehicles so volunteers don’t have to drive their own,” he added.

The program is always looking for more volunteers. Anyone interested is encouraged to go to the KidSport Facebook page or email David Schell for more information.

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Keaton.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow