Operation Red Nose Portage la Prairie officially kicked-off its 2016 campaign with a launch party today at the Portage RCMP detachment.

Portage CO-OP rep Tammy Hammersley contributed $500 worth of gift cards to Red Nose to distribute to volunteers.

Portage Mayor Irvine Ferris, RM Reeve Kam Blight and representatives from many other program partners were on-hand for the launch. Local Red Nose coordinator Leo Lapointe announced the service will start offering rides beginning Grey Cup weekend, Nov. 25-27, then every Friday and Saturday throughout the holiday season until Dec. 31.

"Don't drink and drive, leave the driving to us," Lapointe says, noting rides are available between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. "To keep drinking and driving off the road is my main concern during the holiday season."

Red Nose is a free service, and uses teams of three volunteers to drive people home. An escort driver brings a volunteer driver to the caller's location, then the volunteer driver and a navigator drive the caller and their vehicle home.

Lapointe says they have commitments from Portage Minor Hockey Association, Portage Ringette and Portage Army Cadets to cover most dates, but additional help is always needed. All volunteers are required to complete a criminal check, which is provided by the RCMP for Red Nose at no cost.

"We're always taking new volunteers. It gives us extra people and extra teams to put on the street," Lapointe says. "And that enables us to cover more areas around Portage."

Lapointe adds while the service is free, donations are accepted and proceeds go to support the organization -- PMHA, Portage Ringette or Army Cadets -- volunteering drivers that night.

The number to contact Red Nose Portage la Prairie is 204-239-5570.