The trick to keeping your poppy secured on your lapel is to stick the end of the pin back through the poppy.
West Shore Poppy Fund Committee annual campaign starts today, Oct. 26.
“The point of the poppy drive is to raise funds for the veterans and their families,” said Norm Scott, past president of the Royal Canadian Legion Prince Edward No. 91.
The funds can help veteran cover costs for medical needs or living expenses. The money has been used in the past to help cover costs such heating a home or for dentures.
The poppy fund also helps the Legion provide money for scholarships and bursaries. It also donates money to cadet programs.
All money collected on the West Shore will stay in the community.
While Scott isn’t a veteran he has been involved with the Legion for about 14 years and both his father and grandfather were veterans.
When he sees people donning poppies, “It makes me feel they respect the cause,” Scott said.
This week 16,000 poppies, with letters seeking donations, were mailed out.
In previous years the residential mail-out campaign hasn’t generated the donations the Legion was expecting and this may be the last year poppies are mailed out.
“People owe it to the veterans and what they had to go through,” said veteran Harry Groom, 78. “The poppy is to remember what they did. The veterans are the ones that made Canada, Canada.”
During the course of the campaign poppy canvassers will be outside local business collecting donations and poppy boxes can be found throughout the region as well.
The West Shore Poppy Fund Committee is also seeking volunteer canvassers for the campaign. For more information or to volunteer call 250-478-9812.