The Royal Canadian Legion’s annual Poppy Campaign is underway.
The Poppy Campaign is to remember Veterans, and to put money aside for Veterans and their families for support and aide, and runs until Remembrance Day, on November 11.
A Veterans dinner will be held on Remembrance Day at the Legion.
Brian Steeves, the Poppy Chair for the first time this year, is grateful for how “tremendously generous” the community and town of Quesnel is and has been to Veterans.
“The People of Quesnel – they really help of their veterans,” Steeves says. “I’ve seen everything from pennies, to a hundred dollar bills go into these donation bins. “I believe last year, there was donations to the tune of $17,000 or $18,000 for the campaign. I’m hopeful we’ll get to somewhere in that area this year too.”
Steeves hopes that the Legion will continue to put the money where it “belongs”, and find more ways to break down what Steeves calls the “barrier of pride” within some veterans to ask for the help when they are in need.
“We don’t get told about who’s really in the neighbourhood, what Veteran needs money or any other assistance, and doesn’t say anything,” Steeves says. “Veterans really are a proud bunch, and we hesitate to ask… It’s important they and their families know that this Poppy Campaign is to set aside money for Vets, but it’s also let them, and their families know that there is somewhere that understands and is here to help them with things that money, and pride, can’t always help. They’re not alone.”
Legion volunteers who are handing out poppies can be found at any of the major grocery stores in town, from Monday to Friday to pick up a poppy by donation. As is tradition, poppies are not marketed on Sundays.
Air Cadets will be at three of the major grocery stores on Saturdays, and numerous businesses have donation boxes at their locations. This year, TD Bank and main Starbucks in Quesnel have a donation key on their cash registers or deposit pads so people can donate using debit or credit cards.
The Legion is always looking for more volunteers during the Poppy Campaign, get in touch with the Legion to find out more.
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