Operation Red Nose will again make the Flin Flon area’s streets safer this holiday season.
The Rotary Club is spearheading the free service, which provides rides home to residents unfit to go behind the wheel, using their own vehicles.
“I just think it’s a great program,” said Ted Hewitt, co-chair of Red Nose along with Bill Morrell.
Based out of Flin Flon City Hall, Red Nose will operate on 10 nights throughout late November and all of December.
“It’s for people who want to party or are overtired, or whatever, during the Christmas season and month of December,” said Hewitt. “We get them and their vehicle home.”
Red Nose is a Canada-wide program that is funded solely through sponsorships and donations.
Last year, the local edition of Red Nose generated $13,000 from approximately 180 different rides across 10 evenings.
“Our goal is to do better than last year,” said Hewitt.
Along with corporate sponsorships, last year’s program saw support from about 20 area businesses.
“We do very well,” said Hewitt, noting that the funds go back into the community.
Volunteers
Although Red Nose will start this Friday, Hewitt says it’s “never too late” for volunteers to get involved.
All adults looking to lend a hand with the program are required to fill out a few forms through both Red Nose and the Flin Flon RCMP. Forms are available from any Rotarian or online at Operationrednose.com
“It’s five minutes and really simple,” said Hewitt.
Red Nose follows strict guidelines to have three volunteers out for every call received for the safety of all involved.
“We always have the driver and a navigator in the client’s vehicle…and we have a third person in our group, which is the escort,” Hewitt said. “The (escort) follows and picks up the driver and navigator.”
The number of available seatbelts, after the driver, navigator and owner of the vehicle, determines the number of passengers who can be accommodated.
“There has to be enough seatbelts for everyone,” Hewitt said.
The Rotarians officially launched the 15th year of Flin Flon’s Red Nose program at their noon hour meeting last week at the Green Room of the Flin Flon Community Hall.
During the meeting, the club presented funds from last year’s program to the Flin Flon Minor Hockey Association, Flinty’s Gymnastic Club, Flin Flon Ski Club and Phantom Lake Soccer Club.
Hewitt has been a part of the program for nearly all of those years and enjoys seeing local organizations benefit.
Red Nose operates this year on Nov. 28 and 29, and Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 27 and 31. The number to call is 204-687-RED1 (7331).
