Legions adapt to offer supports during pandemic

Branches feeling strain of lost income, growing bills as they continue work

Royal Canadian Legion branches are adapting their services to support veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the national organization warns financial pressures could result in the closure of some branches.

The head of the national veterans and community service group said this week that despite the shutdown of most branches, volunteers continue preparing hot meals, delivering groceries and providing online social links to struggling veterans.

Dominion president Thomas Irvine said the efforts come at a time when legion branches themselves are under considerable financial strain because of the pandemic, with their main sources of income — in-house restaurants and bars, as well as hosted events — cut off.

“Legion members are united right across the country,” Irvine said in an interview. “They’re doing what is best for the veterans in their communities because they care. They’re extremely supportive.”

But with 1,350 branches across the country that essentially operate as autonomous small businesses, Irvine said they are feeling the strain of lost income and mounting bills as they continue their work.

“On a day-to-day basis, many branches are hand-to-mouth,” he said.

“They pay the bills and keep their doors open. This is going to have a major impact on a lot of our branches.”

Irvine said some branches are drawing from their poppy funds or accepting donations to continue charitable work in their communities. In order to deal with operational challenges, they are also being advised to investigate deferring bill payments to utilities or suppliers or to look to provincial governments for help.

“In most small towns, the branches are central,” Irvine said.

“In a month to two months from now, they may be closed because they had no income coming in the door.”

Meanwhile, volunteers at the branches are finding ways to support isolated veterans, many of whom have health issues that make them susceptible to COVID-19.

Chris Banks, a volunteer and executive member at a branch in Brampton, said the pandemic has struck a chord with many veterans who learned to “adapt and overcome” in their earliest training.

The 20-year military veteran said that mindset has been put to the test over the past few weeks as volunteers try to help elderly legion members and veterans who cannot leave their homes.

Banks said volunteers at his branch began to reach out to veterans to arrange grocery drop-offs over the past few weeks.

“We called the veterans, we said, ‘We’re going to leave (the groceries) on your porch, don’t even come out,’” he said. “Just wave at us through the window.”

The branch has adapted again in recent days, moving to grocery delivery services as stay-athome orders have intensified.

“We thought this was safer for us and the veterans,” Banks said.