Like the famous reindeer it’s named after, Operation Red Nose has become a Christmas staple.
For 22 years, its festive volunteers have been helping Winnipeggers and their vehicles get home safely from their holiday parties.
"Very simply, you have a drink, we drive you home in your car," Sharra Hinton said, volunteer coordinator at Winnipeg’s chapter of Operation Red Nose.
On evenings leading up to Dec. 31, volunteers from around the city gather at Operation Red Nose headquarters at the Safety Services Manitoba building.
"It's always going to be a good night, we don't know who we're going to meet," said Allan Kauk, who has been a volunteer for 21 years.
"They've all got an interesting story to tell," he said.
On Dec. 17, the last Saturday night before Christmas, almost 100 volunteers put on the red vests and head out to where they are needed.
"They are fantastic, really good," Kauk’s first client said as she climbed into her own car being driven by an Operation Red Nose volunteer.
Sharra Hinton explained that there is plenty of work to be done until each client is home safe and often times volunteers stay into the early hours of the morning.
According to Hinton, each year the demand for service increases and the best Christmas gifts to her are more volunteers.
"Our busiest night is New Year’s Eve,” she said. “We'll have 50 drive teams in here that night, and we will do 300 rides."
Operation Red Nose offers its service by donation.
Hinton said clients can only be picked up if they have their own vehicle at the venue.
To sign up as a volunteer, head to the Operation Red Nose website.
