November is always a key time for the Royal Canadian Legion to raise money for its organization and the families it supports through poppy sales.
And with COVID-19 causing many problems for organizations to raise money, including the legion, this year is an all too important year.
“It is instrumental in allowing legion branches across the country to support our Veterans in a multitude of ways,” the Royal Canadian Legion said in a statement. “The funds donated through the campaign provide well over 90 per cent of the Poppy Trust Funds used throughout the year.”
These go into a range of programs and services for veterans, their families and communities, and help promote Remembrance.
“We help Veterans with emergency funding, receive benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada and help them combat mental health challenges among other initiatives,” the organization said.
“Many branches are facing closure and other troubles related to the pandemic because they are unable to generate the expected operational revenue that comes from holding events, renting space, or from food service activities,” it further explained.
Despite many branches facing closure across Canada due to the pandemic, because of the organization’s inability to generate the expected operational revenue that comes from holding events, renting space or from food service activities, the legion explains that operational funds do not come from the Poppy Trust Fund or the yearly poppy campaign.
“Some have turned to creative methods such as drive-through food service or even collecting empty bottles and cans,” the organization said. "The federal government recently announced that an aid package to help branches with operational costs is on the way and we are hopeful that will help some of them survive the pandemic.”
The legion says it has already seen 21 branches close because of the situation.
According to the legion, in 2018, about 19 million poppies were distributed and more than $15 million dollars was disbursed between October 2018 and October 2019 to support Veterans and their families.
The poppy campaign officially launched across Canada on Friday. This year, people can purchase poppies at donation tables or place volunteers at store entrances using touchless electronic donation boxes, as well as digital poppies at www.mypoppy.ca.