Safe Ride Home bowled over by charity

Leslie Tanner bowls as part of Sunday's Safe Ride Home program fundraiser at Capital Bowl.
Leslie Tanner bowls as part of Sunday's Safe Ride Home program fundraiser at Capital Bowl.

 

About 100 bowlers were looking to raise around $5,000 on Sunday for a local program that gives ride vouchers to bar patrons who need a ride home.

Spectators Sports Bar & Grill owner Scott Drinkard said he started Safe Ride Home two years ago when Sober Chauffeur, a similar program, expanded to a year-round program, but then lost a big part of its funding through a national sponsor.

Drinkard said Safe Ride Home is a not-for-profit entity operated by local bars and corporate sponsors. Safe Ride Home also operates year-round, offering a $10 Checker Cab voucher to people who drank too much and need a ride home. That fee covers most taxi rides in Jefferson City, he said, but the customer would pay anything over $10.

Drinkard said the goal is to have a ride for anyone who needs it within 15 minutes.

"It's available 365 days a year, no questions asked," Drinkard said. "It gives you a ride to pretty much anywhere in Jefferson City."

The program is funded through memberships dues from participating businesses, corporate sponsors (including Checker Cab) as well as two annual fundraisers: the bowling tournament and a summer golf tournament that raised about $9,000 last year, Drinkard said.