Ted Hewitt didn’t get home until the wee hours of the morning on the first day of 2016.
He wasn’t out partying. As chairman of Operation Red Nose, he was helping to keep the Flin Flon area’s roads safe.
Red Nose, a volunteer service that drives revelers home in their own vehicles, provided 180 rides across nine nights in November and December.
In the process the Rotary Club-spearheaded initiative raised what is expected to be $10,000-plus for youth activities and organized sports in the area.
“It was actually a pretty good year as far as community support,” said Hewitt.
In addition to clients who made donations in exchange for rides, Red Nose will benefit from substantial corporate sponsorships. The final tally is not in.
On the volunteer front, Hewitt estimated between 90 and 100 people helped out, with some covering multiple shifts.
The number of rides was down compared to the last couple of years, and Hewitt expects the dollars generated will also decline from last year’s $13,000.
New Year’s Eve was by far the busiest night, with 45 rides provided.
Headquartered at Flin Flon City Hall, Red Nose provided rides as far west as Denare Beach and Tyrell Lake and as far east as Bakers Narrows.
