Noelle's Gift Charity Cab will once again help Sarnia-Lambton passengers stay safe on New Year's Eve

Sarnia-Lambton residents looking for a safe ride to or from New Year's Eve festivities will once again be able to rely on resident Adam Dumond's services.

Like in previous years, Dumond is offering pay-what-you-can rides to Sarnia-Lambton residents.

It's his way of helping residents stay safe during New Year's Eve, as well as a way of generating donations for the Noelle's Gift not-for-profit.

"Any friends or family that need a ride anywhere in Sarnia-Lambton, let me know and I'll come get you," said Dumond.

Noelle's Gift was established in January 2013 in honour of Noelle Paquette, a Sarnia kindergarten teacher whose body was found in a woodlot southwest of Sarnia, one day after she was last seen leaving a New Year's Eve party.

Paquette's killers, Tanya Bogdanovich and Michael MacGregor, plead guilty to the first-degree murder of Paquette in December 2015, and were sentenced in February 2016 to life in prison without a chance of parole for 25 years.

Noelle's Gift was started as a way of honouring Paquette's memory, as well as a way of providing support, school supplies and even meals to children in need.

Dumond explained that Paquette's story is well-known in Sarnia.

"We're a little bit more sensitive to this issue in Sarnia because of years past and Noelle's incident, so I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring."

Additionally, the Noelle's Gift Charity Cab, as it's been called in previous years, has the support of the Noelle's Gift non-profit and members of Paquette's family.

"My phone goes crazy, but it's fun," he said. "It's a good way to get the people home. It's another option and obviously it's great awareness for what Noelle's Gift does."

Dumond said riders can be a "mixed bag," explaining that some passengers use his service akin to a shuttle, while others are appreciative of Dumond's efforts to help people.

"One girl in particular, she gave what she could and she was one of the students that needed one of the backpacks that the charity provided one year," he said. "You just hear a lot of heartwarming stories."

Still, even if passengers aren't aware of Paquette's story, they're still welcome to give Dumond a call and schedule a pick-up — even if they're unable to donate at the moment.

"If someone just needs a ride home, I don't care if you give nothing, I'll come get you," Dumon said. "That's the whole point of the ride program … I really don't hold an amount as trying to set a bar. I just try to help as many people as I can."

Anyone interested in calling Dumond for a pick-up can find his phone number on his Facebook page. He'll be making trips between 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, and about 3 a.m. on Jan. 1.

"It should be easy enough to get a hold of me if you need a ride," he said. "If Facebook is the way to go, just search my name on Facebook. You'll find me and my phone number will be connected to it."