Safe-ride program Operation Red Nose short on volunteers

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This article was published 22/11/2022 (1144 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Santa isn’t the only one who needs some helpers come Christmastime.

After a two-year break due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Operation Red Nose has returned. But dozens of volunteers are still needed to keep the service running throughout the holidays, according to volunteer co-ordinator Gladden Smith.

“We’ve got about nine volunteers, and we need about 120 to run the whole season,” Smith said. “If we don’t have teams, we have to cancel nights where we have no teams.”

Operation Red Nose returns after the pandemic put the brakes on the popular program for 2020 and 2021. This marks the program’s 26th year in the province.

“Operation Red Nose has proven to be a meaningful holiday service time and again,” said Safety Services Manitoba president and CEO Ron Janzen on Monday at this year’s kickoff at the Brandon CAA office.

Throughout the holidays, Operation Red Nose volunteers provide a safe ride home for inebriated party-goers and their vehicles. The service is free, but donations are accepted with all money raised going to various youth programs in the province.

Red Nose, which will run in eight other Manitoba communities, is sponsored by Safety Services Manitoba and Manitoba Public Insurance.

In Brandon in 2019, 151 volunteers provided more than 339 rides and raised almost $4,000. Provincially, the average number of people who use the service is 4,000 per year.

Usually, the service has recruited about 80 volunteers by now, Smith said at the kickoff, but he believes people may be discouraged from volunteering by a COVID resurgence.

While minuscule compared to peaks in November 2020, May 2021, December 2021 and January 2022, provincial government data shows the number of COVID cases, test positivity rate and severe cases have crept up since July.

There’s still time to sign up to volunteer, however, Smith said. The Brandon Police Service and RCMP are quick at processing the necessary background checks for Red Nose volunteers.

Volunteer applications are at CAA, Sunrise Credit Union and the Canadian Tire gas bar. Registration forms can also be downloaded from rednose.ca, or prospective volunteers can call 204-728-6673. Smith said, if need be, Red Nose will deliver applications to interested parties.

The completed forms should then be returned as quickly as possible to the CAA location (Unit C, 305 18th St. North), or the Sunrise Credit Union (2305 Victoria Ave. — ask for Lisa). Applicants should bring two pieces of identification, and at least one with a photograph, as copies will be made.

Volunteers work in teams of three, and Smith said recruiting a team from your place of work is one good way to volunteer. But individuals and duos can volunteer, too — they’ll be matched with other individuals or pairs.

This year, Operation Red Nose will run in Brandon from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Nov. 26, and Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 and 31. Riders can dial 204-728-NOSE (6673) for a ride. Service for a corporate party can also be booked by calling 204-570-3557, or by emailing gladden@wcgwave.ca.

You must have a vehicle to get a ride, and there must be enough seatbelts for all passengers. If there are more passengers than seatbelts, riders can request volunteers make more than one trip, but the owners must accompany their vehicle at all times.

» ihitchen@brandonsun.com