Legion kicks off poppy campaign
Thousands of poppies will be handed out over the next two weeks during the Legion’s annual poppy campaign, which kicked off Friday morning and runs until Nov. 10.
The Kelowna Legion has more than 800 poppy trays to go out around the city, and is still looking for around 100 volunteers, particularly for later-afternoon shifts.
Last year’s poppy campaign raised a record $176,000 in Kelowna alone, amounting to more than $200,000 including donations from businesses.
“We’ve always done very well,” said Joy Wallace, poppy office manager for the Kelowna Legion. “You can’t always break records, but you just hope for the best.”
Some of the money raised during the campaign goes to the veterans’ hospital in the Lower Mainland, and the rest of the money stays in Kelowna.
The money is used to support the Kelowna General Hospital, the local cancer agency, the Central Okanagan Hospice Association, the cadets, the Dragoons reserve unit and family members of veterans.
Money is also used to create bursaries for children and grandchildren of veterans.
“There’s over $200,000 with all the contributions that end up coming in, and it’s all spent here, so that’s a pretty big lump sum to have in our community,” said Wallace.
“I thank everybody that has helped and continues to help in so many ways; people here are very very generous and we’re very proud to live here.”
Anyone interested in volunteering during the poppy campaign can stop by the legion at 1380 Bertram St., or call the poppy office at 250-762-2961.