#ygkChallenge: Operation Red Nose

The #ygkchallenge is an ongoing series where we dare you to be different, resolve to be better, and or do something awesome in support of our beloved community. Each week, Kingstonist establishes a new, ambitious or quirky goal, encouraging you to step out of your comfort zone and do something great, and hopefully a little out of the ordinary. By taking part in this community-wide initiative, we hope to make Kingston (and the world) a slightly better place to live, work and play.

This week’s #ygkchallenge encourages you to:

Plan ahead, and get home this holiday season.  Operation Red Nose is a national program dedicated to help prevent drinking and driving.  The program consists of a free, confidential, volunteer-driver service, which offered to any individual who has been drinking or who simply does not feel fit to drive their vehicle home.  One quick call to the Red-Nose Hotline (613-544-7447) will dispatch one of their volunteer drive teams to your pick-up location. Two of the drive-team members will drive you and your guests home in your vehicle, while the third team member follows in the team escort vehicle. When you arrive at your drop-off location, your encouraged to make a donation, and the team will reunite and continue on to their next assignment.  Locally, Operation Red Nose operates within and up to 30 kms around the city.   With over 500 safe rides offered last year, and over 10,000 rides completed over the course of the program’s 20 year history in Kingston, it’s clear to see that it does a great deal of good.  Whether you choose to volunteer or take advantage of the service, you’re helping make Kingston-area roads safer during the holiday season.

Join us in completing this week’s #ygkchallenge by liking it on Facebook and/or re-Tweeting it on Twitter. By liking and sharing, you’re not only committing to doing something great, but you’re also helping us spread the word and hopefully encouraging others to participate.

Photo credit to pee vee.