The great news for Operation Red Nose is that rides are up over last year by 40 per cent. More people are using the service offered by the Delta Gymnastics Society and this amounts to more people enjoying a safe ride home during the holidays.
The not so great news is that Operation Red Nose is short of volunteers for one of its busiest nights of the season, New Year’s Eve.
“We are overjoyed that the response to our service has been so positive this year. For whatever reason, more people are calling in this year and taking advantage of our, by donation, safe ride home program,” says Operation Red Nose coordinator Ellyn Schriber.
“We are concerned about New Year’s Eve though. More rides for the program mean we need more volunteers and we have a real shortage of volunteers for New Year’s Eve.”
Operation Red Nose offers a catered dinner for all its volunteers on New Year’s Eve that goes far beyond the usual volunteer experience. There is a dedicated dinner room that is decorated for New Year’s with party streamers, noise makers and sparkling apple juice.
In addition, Operation Red Nose is offering an incentive to community members that are considering volunteering that night as drivers.
“We know that for some people this is a difficult night to volunteer, however it is one of our biggest and most important nights to provide safe rides homes,” says Schriber. “Therefore, we would like to extend an offer to those who sign up as New Year Eve’s volunteers to bring their children for free to our special Kids Night Out that evening. While parents are volunteering, their children will be able to enjoy a great party and have a safe place to stay until they are finished with their shift.”
Delta Gymnastics Society is inviting kids in the community to spend an action-filled New Year’s Eve at the gym. The Kids Night Out – New Year’s Eve Edition is for children ages five to 12 from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
“Our gym is really a giant indoor playground, and we want to offer parents, who may struggle to find caregivers for their children, an option for the kids to also celebrate the New Year,” says Delta Gymnastics executive director Ana Arciniega.
The cost for the KNO New Year’s edition is $50 per child with the third child free (all children must be from the same family). Spaces are limited, and pre-registration is required.
For information about this event and Operation Red Nose, visit deltagymnastics.com or call 604-943-0460.
