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Legion says Poppy Campaign totals up from last year

Nov 22, 2017 | 2:49 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB —The local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion says they have already seen a significant increase in support with this year’s Poppy Campaign.

The Robertson Memorial Branch No. 17, the Legion branch representing Medicine Hat, says at the end of the campaign, which ended on Remembrance Day, has raised approximately $63,000 following expenses, with money still coming in.

“That’s $63,000 that we can use to benefit the veterans in our area,“said Sheila Donner, Poppy Campaign chair, adding it’s approximately $10,000 more than last year.

Donner says the campaign likely received higher support due to more volunteers and locations in the community this year, especially from youth.

“We had Boy Scouts operating the table at Sobeys,” she said. “We had Army Cadets and Sea Cadets helping us at the mall. It was wonderful. We had the Kiwanis Club. We had other organizations stepping forward to help us this year.”

The money raised through the campaign stays local, although the committee can vote to send a small amount of the money raised to the Command Poppy Office in Calgary, which is used to help veterans who end up on the streets.

“We find that we have younger veterans coming forward, seeking assistance,” she said. “They’re find that PTSD, it’s okay to acknowledge that you possibly have it.

“So what we do is sometimes that bridge financing when they’re down and out, and they’re rent is overdue, and they have no money to get up to Calgary to access the Occupational Stress Injury Office. It’s three hours away. If you don’t have the money for gas or food or a hotel, we can help them with that before Veterans Affairs steps in.”

She adds the primary focus for the legion is to help veterans locally who need assistance.

“We do a needs assessment, and based on that, we determine (what we can do to help),” she said. “We’ve been very willing to help veterans who come forward, because most of them don’t step forward and ask for help unless they’re in dire straits.”

Donner says in the past, the legion has bought scooters and stair lifts for local veterans, provided food vouchers and even helped pay rent and utility bills for some veterans.

She explains the expenses for the campaign refers to the costs of the wreaths and poppies they have to order from Ottawa