Legion goes online with annual poppy sal e fundraiser

As the Royal Canadian Legion adapts its poppy campaign to the pandemic, most legion branches won’t set up donation tables or have volunteers at store entrances. Instead, the campaign leading up to Nov. 11 will have electronic donation boxes that accept tap payments, and unstaffed traditional donation boxes — and people are encouraged to donate to the campaign online. The legion will also be selling non-medical masks online and through some branches. Physical poppies will be available as well. The legion said it typically raises $20 million through its poppy campaign each year, with the donations going to support veterans. “We’re confident that Canadians will be as generous (this year) as they normally are,” said Nujma Bond, communications manager for the Royal Canadian Legion’s national headquarters.