The last year it was running Operation Red Nose provided about 400 rides to 885 passengers in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Donations from users resulted in $7,500 for local safe grad programs.

A volunteer program to get people home safely over the holidays has been cancelled indefinitely in Nova Scotia.

Operation Red Nose was cancelled in Halifax last year and organizers now say it's unlikely the program will ever return.

The program used to supply dozens of sober drivers throughout the Christmas party season in exchange for a donation to safe grad programs.

Spokesman David Latouche said for the second year in a row, the organization doesn't have enough support in this province

"We need to have locally a local host organization who is willing to organize the service as well as a provincial sponsor to come to cover all of the expenses to offer the program in the province,” he said.

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation was the provincial sponsor up until last year. It helped spread the word about Operation Red Nose and many employees volunteered their time.

Operation Red Nose said people planning to have a few drinks at this year's Christmas party should be prepared to call a cab or have a designated driver on stand-by. (CBC)

NSLC program co-ordinator Beth Martin said they'd still be on board if the organization hadn't lost its national sponsor, the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

“The nice thing about the Operation Red Nose program is that the clients were able to provide a donation to a safe grad program, and it just had a nice happy story for all involved. But we certainly have cab companies in the area that's their business, to get people home safely, so we certainly encourage Nova Scotians to ensure they have a plan in place to arrive home safely,” she said.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada said it sponsored Operation Red Nose for six years in Nova Scotia, but is now directing its sponsorship money elsewhere.

“We do think it’s a great program,” said a spokesperson.

The group said it usually only sponsors programs for about three years at a time.

Since Operation Red Nose can't run without insurance coverage the volunteer service in Nova Scotia has hit the brakes indefinitely.

The last year it was running in Halifax, Operation Red Nose provided about 400 rides to 885 passengers in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Donations from users resulted in $7,500 for local safe grad programs.

Volunteers also worked in Truro and Sydney, but the program hasn't been up and running in a few years.