Into the holiday spirits? Get a ride home with Operation Red Nose

On Friday and Saturday nights from Nov. 25 to Dec. 17, if you've been drinking too much or are too tired to get home, you can call Operation Red Nose and a team of volunteers will come to you and drive you and your vehicle home safely.

"So nine nights in total and it's completely run by volunteers," said B.C. Operation Red Nose provincial spokesperson Chris Wilson, who added that the service is also available on New Year's Eve.

Call 1-877-604-NOSE

The service has been operating in Canada for the past 33 years. It began in Quebec City when a swim coach was looking for a way for his athletes to give back, but also raise money for their program.

"It's been in B.C. for about 25 years and it's a win-win for everybody," said Wilson, who coordinates the 300-volunteer-strong program in New Westminister, Burnaby and the Tri-Cities.

The service is completely free, but people using it are encouraged to give a donation. All the money earned goes directly to youth-based charities.

"And we just want to make sure people get home safely, so if somebody doesn't have any money, we don't want that to be a reason for them to take a chance by driving themselves home," said Wilson.

Wilson says the average donation made in 2015 was $34.

According to ICBC, last year 4,264 volunteers across 13 B.C. communities gave 7,071 rides while raising $192,720 for their local charities.

Not in Vancouver

While the service will be offered in 12 communities in 2016, Vancouver is not one of them.

"I think the main reason it's not in Vancouver is because it takes a lot of volunteers to do a proper job with it, and because the City of Vancouver is so large. I think it's a little intimidating for a non-profit organization to take it on," said Wilson.

There are commerically-run ride programs available in Vancouver.

Operation Red Nose makes rides available from 9 p.m. PT to 3 a.m PT, but Wilson advises people call at least 30 minutes before they want to get picked up, and up to two hours in advance on New Year's Eve.

The service has also launched a mobile phone app to book rides.

B.C. Operation Red Nose communities in 2016 are:

• Abbotsford/Mission.
• Burnaby.
• Chilliwack.
• Delta/Richmond.
• Kamloops (also operating on Dec. 26 and 30).
• Langley/Surrey.
• New Westminster.
• North Shore (North Vancouver & West Vancouver).
• Prince George (also operating on Dec. 30).
• Ridge-Meadows.
• Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Belcarra and Anmore).
• Williams Lake.

with files from Deborah Goble.