You can be one of Santa's special helpers this year by joining the ranks of Operation Red Nose volunteers.
The national organization is gearing up for nine nights of getting Christmas revellers home safely — in their own vehicles — and is looking for more than 300 people to help out in the Tri-Cities, Burnaby and New Westminster.
"The last couple of years, it's been around 285 and the demand just keeps growing, so we're hoping to recruit over 300 this year," said Chris Wilson, the local ORN representative and a Coquitlam city councillor.
Volunteers are sent out in teams of three consisting of a designated driver who picks up the client, a navigator in the same vehicle and a third person who follows in the client's vehicle, for Friday and Saturday nights from Nov. 25 to Dec. 17, and on New Year's Eve.
Shifts are from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., making for a long night but one that tends to be "pretty entertaining," Wilson said. "Sometimes they'll sing you songs, thanking you."
Volunteers can enjoy food donated by local restaurants and pubs, and also get the satisfaction of knowing they're making a difference in the community, Wilson said.
"We'll never know if we've saved a life in any given year," he said, "but when you give over 1,000 rides, at some point you've saved somebody's life."
At the same time, the volunteer effort is helping to raise money for KidSport, an organization that helps underprivileged children get involved in sports.
Volunteers can sign up for as many nights as they'd like and can participate individually or with friends. There is no deadline to apply and volunteers are accepted right up until New Year's Eve, although Wilson advised signing up and getting criminal record checks completed as early as possible to avoid the rush.
Last year, 286 volunteers gave 1,011 rides totalling 27,855 km. Clients donated $33,000, which helped 120 local kids participate in sports.
• For more information and an application form, visit www.operationrednosetricities.com or email [email protected].
