After 16-year of providing safe rides home, Operation Red Nose in Prince George is on track to deliver its 10,000th trip this holiday season.
"All we need is 951 rides and we predict we'll reach that milestone on New Year's Eve," said ORN spokeswoman Andrea Johnson. Both the volunteers and the clients involved in that 10,000th ride will receive a special reward.
But to reach that goal, ORN needs volunteers. So far, 71 applications have been received and ORN needs about 450 to meet the demand for rides.
Signing up begins with going to www.ornpg.ca where an application form can be filled out and printed off. Take it and your driver's licence to the community policing office at the Prince George RCMP detachment at 455 Victoria St. where a criminal record check will be carried out.
The earlier you submit your application the more choices you'll have for the dates you prefer. After Nov. 14, dates will be filled in where needed on a first-come, first-served basis.
On average, about 15 road teams of three will be on call each night of service, working from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. This year, ORN will be in service on nine nights: Nov. 28 and 29, Dec. 5 and 6, Dec. 12 and 13, Dec. 19 and 20 and New Year's Eve.
Last year, 258 volunteers provided 1,001 rides home in nine nights, which ranked Prince George third out of 13 communities in B.C. More than 1,100 rides were provided in 2010, the best ever to date.
For more information, call volunteer co-ordinator Karen Toombs at 250-961-6465.
