Operation Red Nose launched its 12th year in Thompson Nov. 13 at the City Centre Mall, announcing that volunteers will be driving people home in their own cars for 10 nights this year, starting Nov. 27.
Last year, the program ran on 11 nights between Nov. 28 and 31, with 107 volunteers providing 192 rides and raising $2,886.24 in donations, which were handed over to the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities.
Bobbi Montean of the Red Nose committee said the honorary chair of this year's program is Laura Fitzner, a Manitoba Public Insurance employee whose aunt, Janet Poirier, served as a dispatcher for the program for seven years before passing away earlier this year.
Other members of the Red Nose committee are Ron Trainor, Carol Pelton, Mark McLatchy, Colleen Smook and Kate Cruickshank.
"We welcome all volunteers," said Montean, including drivers, navigators to accompany drivers in program users' cars, escorts to follow in their own cars or donated vehicles and dispatchers to organize vehicle pick-ups with drivers. Some positions, such as dispatcher, are open to volunteers who are under 18 years old or don't have a driver's licence. There are also options for those who'd like to volunteer but can't stay up to midnight or 1 a.m.
"Some nights we will have early shifts," said Montean. "We found that worked pretty good last year."
Thompson Ford has once again volunteered vehicles to be used for the program.
"They're always one of the first ones that step up to the plate," said Montean.
People who can't volunteer can contribute in other ways as well.
"We would greatly appreciate either cash donations or gas cards for any 24-hour gas stations," said Montean, noting that some volunteers in the past have requested a contribution towards gas, which they paid for out of their own pockets. "Not everybody can afford it."
Operation Red Nose will be in service Nov. 27-28, Dec. 4-5, Dec. 11-12, Dec. 18-19, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve.
"Next weekend will be busy," said Montean, as the committee raises awareness with posters and cards around town. "I'm expecting that Dec. 4-5 will be really insane."
After that, she said, the numbers usually peter out towards Christmas and pick up again afterwards.
"We'll be out on Boxing Day as well," said Montean. "We'll have at least one team out that night."
Volunteers can even help out users of Operation Red Nose by providing rides home for babysitters, said Montean.
"That's really good for the dispatcher to know when people call in," she said.
Funds raised this year will go towards a local youth organization.
"That hasn't been decided for this year," said Montean.
Of eight Operation Red Nose programs in the province in 2008, Thompson's was sixth in total rides and total donations and seventh in total number of volunteers. In The Pas, 136 volunteers gave 251 rides and raised $3,124.35. Flin Flon saw 235 rides given by 155 volunteers that raised $3,174.35. In Portage la Prairie, 102 volunteers gave 237 rides and received $3,965.71 in donations.
Manitoba-wide, Operation Red Nose raised $45,920 in 2008, offering 2,777 rides by 1,779 volunteers.
To arrange a ride from Operation Red Nose, call 778-811 or dial #NOSE from an MTS cell phone.
