Poppy campaign underway
More volunteers needed to staff poppy stations
Adrienne Speck, chair of the annual poppy campaign in Yarmouth, told a compelling story of generosity during the campaign’s official launch on Oct. 26 at the Royal Canadian Legion branch 61.
She said several years ago an elderly woman stopped to donate money for poppies at three different locations in Yarmouth.
Each legion member asked her if she needed help inserting her rolled up $5 bill into the box.
“Oh no, that’s okay, I’ll do it,” she said.
Speck said when poppy fund collectors returned to legion they unrolled the $5 bills to find a $1,000 bill in each one of them.
They never did find out who the woman was, but legion members placed a plaque in her honour on their wall and published an ad in the newspaper thanking her.
During the 2018 poppy campaign, legion members and other volunteers will be distributing 8,000 poppies in the area. The poppies are available for a donation to those who want one or will be provided for free if no funds can be spared.
All funds raised directly support veterans, serving military and their families in various ways, including housing and care facilities for elderly, disabled and homeless veterans; sponsorship of cadet and youth programs; veterans’ drop-in centres and meals-onwheels programs; burseries for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of veterans and more.
The poppies will be available at various Yarmouth retail outlets and other locations.
Persons willing to help in the distribution can speak to Speck at the legion, at 75 Veterans Lane off Parade Street.
Poppy symbolism