Operation Red Nose is looking for some more helping hands as they approach their busiest night of the year.
As of right now, Operation Red Nose in Winnipeg is short about 2/3 of the volunteer drivers and navigators needed to handle the expected call volume on New Year’s Eve.
“We’re at urgent need levels,” said Elisha Dacey, Volunteer Media Liaison for Operation Red Nose Winnipeg. “We’re hoping that if you haven’t made any plans for celebrating, that you’ll help us out so that this year doesn’t end in tragedy.”
There are currently 10 drive teams signed up for New Year’s Eve, but in order to make sure they are able to get everyone home safely, they need about 20 more teams, or around 60 people.
“You don’t need to put together a team yourself; we can put people into groups. And you don’t need to have a driver’s licence, navigators don’t drive. You just need to have the willingness to have some fun and keep people safe,” said Dacey. “Of course, if you have a team, whether that is a pair or a trio, we’d be happy to keep you all together!”
Volunteers who sign up will be grouped into teams of three. One person stays in the vehicle, while the navigator and the client driver get into the client’s vehicle in the front. The passengers get into the back. The client driver takes the vehicle and the passengers home, while the escort driver follows.
From there, the navigator and client driver return to the escort vehicle and are dispatched to their next client.
“The time goes quickly, you meet great people, and you get to know your city.”
All escort vehicles are reimbursed for their gas, and dinner is served to all volunteers before they head out.
Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to send an email to volunteer@rednosewinnipeg.ca or fill out the forms at rednosewinnipeg.ca/volunteer.
