Those who like to enjoy a little too much of the holiday cheer now have fewer excuses to get behind the wheel.
Operation Red Nose was officially kicked off in Cornwall Thursday. But the service, which requests donations in exchange for getting individuals and their vehicles home safely following a night of partying, will only go into operation Nov. 30.
The aim is to take more impaired drivers off the road and raise a little money for local charity work - in this case, the Cornwall Boys and Girls Club.
Last year more than $4,100 was raised and the belief is just as much can be collected this year, if not more, said Ray Eady, secretary of the Kinsmen Club of Cornwall and one of the organizers of the service.
"We helped about 160 people last year get home safely," said Eady of Operation Red Nose's first year in the city. "We never really expected that much.
Each Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. residents can call 613-935-6761 to be picked up along with their vehicle and driven home. Donations will the accepted, which will be turned over to the Boys and Girls Club.
Volunteers handle the driving and nearly 100 have signed up to help this year.
"This is more of a supplement to cab companies," said Eady. "We don't care how you get home, we just want you to get there safely with your car."
The program runs until Dec. 31. If you wish to volunteer for Operation Red Nose, applications can be found at Allstate (89 Tollgate Road West), as well as Earthway Family Chiropractic (812 Pitt Street), Computer Sense (Montreal Road) and the Seaway News office (29 Second Street East).
