A new host organization didn't slow down Operation Red Nose in 2012.

Volunteers gave more than 600 tipsy revelers rides homes over the holiday season and raised more than $10,000 for the Kiwanis Club of Sardis, which took over the program from the Chilliwack Restorative Justice and Youth Advocacy Association (CRJYAA).

In total, Volunteers for the campaign logged 410 hours and delivered 657 cars and their owners home safe and sound, according to co-ordinator Chris Kizmann.

The month-long operation wrapped up New Year's Eve with 111 teams-many composed of Kiwanis members-having hit the road. Those teams drove a total of 16,547 kilometres and raised $11,772.63 in donations from riders.

That money will go to the Kiwanis's various youth-oriented programs in Chilliwack, Kizmann said.

Kizmann said the service club deliberately followed the model established by the CRJYAA, which grew Operation Red Nose to the point that it was no longer able to handle both the program and its own services.

The busiest night was New Year's Eve, with 55 volunteers providing 96 rides home.

"How the community responded and the volunteers responded was the most impressive thing," Kizmann said. And that translated to happy riders. "People were very happy with the service, [and] happy to get the ride home."

In 13 British Columbia cities, 4,555 volunteers gave 8,082 rides. A total of 87,761 rides were provided throughout Canada.

tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com