Funeral home offers free rides

LA GRANDE, Ore. — Anyone in La Grande or Island City who calls the Loveland Funeral Chapel on New Year's Eve gets a free ride home, no questions asked.

Every year the phone rings off the hook and every year, more people get home safe.

Kevin Loveland, funeral-home director, said he has been running his designated-driver service since 2001, two years after a close friend was killed in an alcohol-related crash.

"It was his choice to drink and drive, but that doesn't make his death any less painful or sad," Loveland said.

Loveland offers free rides on New Year's Eve and during other big events in the rural Oregon area, such as the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show and the Elgin Stampede.

It doesn't matter whether passengers were at a bar or a private party, or even if they're old enough to drink. They just have to call.

Last year, nearly 200 people called to take advantage of the service on New Year's Eve.

Loveland provides two vehicles — a minivan and an SUV — and pays fuel costs for the program. The answering service stays in touch with the drivers via cellphone.

Jerry Hopkins of La Grande, who quit drinking six years ago, is the lead driver on most occasions.

"I do it so people don't cause accidents or get arrested," Hopkins said.