The Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, and other legion branches across the southeast region, have launched their annual poppy campaigns.
Jim Forrest, who is the president of the legion in Estevan, said the poppy campaign is the primary fundraiser that the legion has for veterans throughout the year.
“The money from the poppy campaign is held in a trust fund, and can only be used for certain things,” said Forrest.
Money from last year supported such causes as Leave the Streets Behind, which is a program to find a residence for homeless veterans; the Veterans Wellness Program that looks after all aspects of veterans’ health, ranging from nutrition to mental health; and Paws for Vets, which provides service dogs for veterans.
The poppy fund also supports local cadet programs, and provides bursaries to students related to veterans. The legion handed out five $1,000 bursaries in 2018-19.
The poppy campaign business blitz kicked off Monday morning, with the legion dropping off trays filled with poppies at local businesses and other locations in the community. People can make a donation to purchase a poppy.
The trays were delivered from Monday to Wednesday.
“I ask people to support this campaign, because you’re supporting veterans when you support the poppy campaign, and I think everybody understands the debt we owe to those folks,” said Forrest.
The poppies will be available for purchase until Remembrance Day on Nov. 11. The legion will host Estevan’s Remembrance Day service that day, starting at 10:45 a.m. at the Estevan Comprehensive School’s gymnasium.
“Estevan’s always been a community that tends to support our legion and our veterans,” said Forrest.
According to a press release from the legion, close to 20 million poppies will be distributed over a two-week period in Canada and abroad, and because of generous donors, close to that same number of dollars will go back into initiatives to support veterans across Canada.
This is also the second year that people can visit MyPoppy.ca and get a Digital Poppy.
