Operation Red Nose kicks off the season

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/11/2024 (467 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You know it’s the beginning of the holiday season when the snow falls, nights grow longer, and Operation Red Nose begins.

Celebrating its fifth year in service, Operation Red Nose St Malo will have some changes this year.

“They’re small changes, but they’re fun,’ said coordinator Charmaine Gosselin.

The group will have magnets on their cars identifying the drivers as working for Operation Red Nose. The group has also purchased a photo booth where selfies can be taken with a whiteboard announcing the communities the drivers will be in. It’s all an effort to get the word out.

“Our phone needs to ring more so we’re ready to provide rides to all the other communities that can keep us busy too,” said Gosselin, noting St Malo and St Pierre-Jolys keep drivers really busy.

Operation Red Nose St Malo needs about 200 volunteers to give rides and drive people’s cars home on Friday and Saturday nights Starting Nov. 29 and on New Year’s Eve.

“We’re especially looking to fill Dec. 20, 21, 27, 28 and New Year’s Eve. We’re looking for drive teams for any of the other nights as well. Ride teams of three or four people and we always want at least two dispatchers every night, so we’re also looking for dispatcher positions as well,” said Gosselin.

Shifts usually start around 7:45 p.m. and last until 3 a.m.

Volunteers will receive a radio, reflective vest, snacks, beverages, and best of all they can choose the charity of their choice for where ride donations will go towards.

“Depending on how many volunteers chose the same (non-profit), your (non-profit) might get a lot more money than other (non-profits) if multiple people chose your (non-profit),” said Gosselin.

Last year, $2,000 was given to minor league baseball and $1,000 was given to the breakfast programs at St Malo schools. The rest of the money raised will go towards new baseball diamonds being built by the grotto and the town community centre.

“The community centre needs a lot of work so we’re happy to put money towards that,” said Gosselin, adding clients also get gifts.

“We were handing out lots of gifts last year. We are doing that again this year and that’s all because of our 47 sponsors are giving us for gifts for clients,” she said noting that last year one sponsor gave clients Yeti coffee mugs.

The communities being served are all the towns along Highway 59 from Lorette to Tolstoi and Highway 75 from St. Adolphe to Dominion City.

To schedule a ride with Operation Red Nose or to volunteer, visit www.stmalorednose.com.

Operation Red Nose Steinbach/La Broquerie

This year, Operation Red Nose Steinbach/La Broquerie will be giving rides to holiday revelers on Fridays and Saturdays starting on Nov. 30 and ending on New Year’s Eve.

“It’s a really great option for people who are just possibly not planning ahead and want to contribute…,” said spokesperson Jo-Anne Dalton. “They may have gone out and not really thought about how their vehicle will get home or had planned to leave it behind and get a ride with someone. It just gives another option outside of the regular transportation service (so) you and your vehicle get home.”

Every year, for the past 11 years, Operation Red Nose Steinbach/La Broquerie has raised funds for Ecole Saint-Joachim. Last year, it raised $21,885 for the school’s expansion. Over the past 11 years, Operation Red Nose has raised $68,376 for the school. This year, the ride home service is hoping to raise $15,000 to $20,000 for a new play structure.

“Every dollar makes a difference. During ride nights we raise donations based on what people feel like giving us, but it is a free service so we don’t generally focus on the dollars, we just want to make sure people get home safe,” said Dalton.

The free service covers areas in and around Steinbach, La Broquerie, Sarto, Kleefeld, Blumenort, Richer, Ste Anne, and Marchand.

“We have the same need for volunteers, the same goals to raise funds, and find sponsors and we really just want to keep people safe over the holidays. We operate Fridays and Saturdays in December and New Year’s Eve, as well as Nov. 30,” said Dalton.

The service is in need of volunteers. Volunteers will receive food and beverages, fuel gift cards, and prizes from sponsors.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or use the service should call 204-424-9555.