Bar hoppers will begin seeing posters promoting Safe Rides in local bars and clubs next month.

The free shuttle service received a $2,500 grant from the Jesse Snow Memorial Fund this week to use for advertising.

The $50,000 memorial fund, used to promote alcohol awareness programs on campus, was established by Chevy’s in 2003 after the alcohol-related death of Jesse Snow. Snow had been drinking at Chevy’s the night of his death.

Mario Garcia, Safe Rides coordinator, said any organization on campus can apply for grants up to $2,500 each semester to use for events, activities or promotional materials related to raising alcohol awareness.

Safe Rides posters are now being designed by students and will be printed at Alpha Graphics within the month.

“The posters will go up in gas stations and bars within the five-mile radius where we operate,” Garcia said. “Hopefully our poster will be the last thing people see when they leave, and it will encourage them to give us a call instead of trying to drive home.”

Safe Rides, a volunteer-based program at Sacramento State, runs on a $29,871 budget each year. In order to fund production of any extra promotional items, such as T-shirts or posters, it has to apply for grant money, said Jennifer Millsap, director of student life and service.

Millsap said the program depends on volunteers from clubs and organizations on campus because they use the program most often, but that she hopes more students will get involved.

“Organized groups are easy to recruit because they are already organized, but we have a commitment to recruit students at large and get them involved with the program,” Millsap said.

Students who volunteer use their own cars but can be reimbursed for gas. The program will also pay to have volunteers’ upholstery cleaned if a passenger gets sick during the ride home.

Anyone with a valid Sac State One Card, including faculty, can use the free shuttle service. Safe Rides operates Thursday to Saturday nights and can be reached by calling (916) 278-7923.

———————————————————————————-

Rebecca Adler can be reached at [email protected]