A new volunteer group is taking over a popular way to get home in the holiday season. Operation Red Nose will now be run by the Cold Lake AG Society. The program offers holiday partiers a safe ride home for themselves and their vehicles. The last eight years saw ORN run by Cold Lake Victim Services.
AG Society President Dustin Foulds says he’s pleased as can be that his group gets to take the reins.
“I know it was on a lot of peoples minds that if there was no group [to take over], this wouldn’t happen again. It’s a great program to help keep the city of Cold Lake streets safer during the holiday season.”
Victim Services announced they would be handing over the program back in November of 2018. Applications were then accepted for non-profit groups to take over. Foulds says the application process included getting the thumbs-up from other organizations around the community.
“We had to get letters of support from different community groups. That took a little time because we had to figure out who we needed and what was needed. We got all that and were able to submit an application and get approved.”
The service will be free but donations will be accepted. Last year Victims Services made about $5000. Foulds says the money they take in for 2019 will end up going towards scholarships and funding local sports.
More information about supporting ORN and volunteering is expected to be released closer to the start of the holiday season.