Businesses contribute to free rides home on St. Patrick's Day

Local businesses and organizations have chipped in to help a local businessman get revelers home safely on the St. Patrick’s Day holiday Saturday.

Clayton Quinnell, owner of Empire PC Shop, said six other groups have joined his business in offering free rides home from bars Saturday.

“This year we’re putting together goody bags, something to reward these people for making a smart choice and getting a ride instead of driving home and getting a DUI,” he said.

He said the Northern Montana Health Care pharmacy at the clinic, Fifth Avenue Christian Church, Stromberg’s Sinclair, Infinity Bake Shop, fivehead’s/The Press and 5th Ave. Grind all donated items ranging from coupons to painkillers and bottled water to put in bags he will give to people who take him up on his offer for a free ride home.

He said his business is paying for the gasoline used to drive people home.

Quinnell said people who need a ride home Saturday can call him at 390-6061 to get a ride home — and only a ride home and only on St. Patrick’s Day. He said his program, Get a Ride, Not a DUI, is only for taking people home and cannot be used to go anywhere else.

He said he decided a couple of years ago to start offering the service on New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day.

“My hope is, I get enough people (Saturday) that next year I have to get more people to give rides,” he said.