Starting this holiday season, the Lincoln County Sherriff’s Office along with the Waldoboro, Damariscotta, and Wiscasset Police Departments will be taking part in a Designated Driver Initiative in partnership with Healthy Lincoln County and local businesses.

Local retailers including Hilltop Stop, Damariscotta Hardware, Reny’s, Rising Tide Co-op, ABOCA Beads, Sheepscot General, and the Jefferson Market & General Store have all graciously donated in support of this new initiative. “We are overwhelmed by the willingness and generosity of our community in response to this new program. We really do have a community of people who care,” says Kelsey Robinson, director of Healthy Lincoln County.

Every day, approximately 28 people die in the United States from alcohol-impaired driving. As a means to reward community members who are choosing to drive responsibly, Healthy Lincoln County will be supplying donated gift certificates to law enforcement to provide to people identified as designated drivers. The goal is to have patrolling deputies “catch people doing something good” by driving responsibly.

“HLC is very excited to be bringing this initiative to Lincoln County in partnership with our local law enforcement and community businesses. It feels so great to be able to reward folks for just being the great people they are, in the true holiday spirit, and remind our community just how large of a difference they make when they drive safely!” says Larissa Hannan, substance use prevention coordinator for Healthy Lincoln County.

Keep an eye out. You might just be caught driving safely!

Any retailers who are interested in sponsoring the Designated Driver Initiative can contact Healthy Lincoln County at 563-1330.