Leslie Green and her army of volunteers will continue their Christmas tradition of providing safe rides home for Sudburians this year.
As the founder and president of Safe Ride Home Sudbury, Green is putting out the call for volunteers to help make sure residents are able to enjoy their holidays while ensuring they make it home safe and sound afterwards.
The holiday season is quickly approaching, she said, and people are making plans for celebrations.
“We want them to plan ahead for a safe ride home,” Green said.
The campaign kicks off Nov. 16 and offers rides to Sudburians every Friday and Saturday night right through to New Year's Eve.
It takes a small army of volunteers to pull it off, though, she said.
“It's a unique and fun experience while offering your fellow Sudburians a safe ride home,” Green said. “Our volunteers are well taken care of throughout the night.”
Safe Ride Home Sudbury is always in need of more volunteers to meet the demand, Green said, and recruitment happens throughout the duration of the campaign.
“We like to have 75 to 100 volunteers every night the program is running, so we encourage people to come out as individuals, where we will set them up in a team, or they can come in as a group,” Green said. “Our volunteers make a significant contribution to the safety of our community. It's a very serious message obviously, but our volunteers have a lot of fun doing it.”
Although Safe Ride Home Sudbury is only two years old, the service of providing rides home for residents and their vehicles is marking 20 years this season.
“It's hard to believe,” said Green. “People have come to expect our services in the community, and over the years, we've ensured thousands of Sudburians and their vehicles arrive home safely. We're very proud of that accomplishment.”
Green started the ball rolling in 1999, and she knew then like she knows now that it takes a community team to address a community problem.
That's why she is so appreciative of the hundreds of volunteers and the many businesses and organizations that sponsor Safe Ride Home Sudbury. They are the ones who make it possible, she said.
“Together, we are taking a united fight against impaired driving,” Green said.
Volunteer applications are available at all Tim Horton's stores throughout Greater Sudbury.
For more information, visit saferidehomesudbury.ca.
