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Guelph legion aims to break $100,000 in poppy donations

Last year, even with the pandemic, local legion earned $97,000 through poppy campaign
Jesse Gault, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Jesse Gault, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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A box of poppies.Jesse Gault/GuelphToday

GUELPH — Poppies earn money to support veterans, but also help people think about the sacrifices of those who served.

“We are out there trying to help people take time, stop, and think and remember those who served and those who served and gave up their lives to maintain the freedoms that we currently enjoy in this country,” said David Thompson chair of the poppy campaign at Guelph's Royal Canadian Legion branch.

Thompson is confident in the donations to be raised this year.

“I’m quite confident that we’re going to break over a $100,000 on this particular campaign.”

Even during the pandemic, significant donations were raised in Guelph.

“We raised $97,000 in the campaign last year. And you have to remember the campaign last year was just coming out of COVID so there were some limitations and in fact we were not able to use our full complement of cadets just because of concerns about their health.”

Donations in Guelph are pooled into a fund to be used.

“We are collecting donations towards a poppy trust fund that is held by our branch, as all branches have this particular fund, and from that fund we tend to then support, first of all, veterans.”

The poppy trust fund goes to support local hospitals and other causes.

“And there are number of other programs out there that veterans receive some additional support, especially in the area of homelessness. There is a big push to get veterans off the streets.

“We also provide programs that address specific injuries, or health conditions that veterans may come across after their service.”

Donations are also used to support family members of veterans.

“Along with that we provide bursaries for members of veterans families to attend higher learning situation.”

The poppy campaign will go from last Friday until the end of ceremonies on Nov. 11. After that, donations are counted.

It takes money to put on the poppy campaign.

“Our expenditures are probably in the neighbourhood of about $15,000. You have to understand that also includes poppies, wreaths, supplies of various kinds.”

The Poppy campaign runs until Nov. 11 when Remembrance Day services are held at McCrae Gardens on Water Street at 9 a.m. followed by a service at the Sleeman Center at 10:15 a.m.

Jesse Gault is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.