Local Legions like this one, Branch #256 on Wellington Rd. in Nanaimo are hopeful this year's Poppy campaign can be a success despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (Ian Holmes)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Poppy campaign

Poppy campaign underway, Nanaimo Legion official expects reduced donations

Nov 1, 2020 | 8:05 AM

NANAIMO — While a key fund-raiser for Canadians who fought for our freedom is likely in for a COVID-19 gut punch, a local legion official hopes people will answer their rallying cry.

Lew Forth, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #256 on East Wellington Rd., said their branch now has hundreds of donation cans displayed at Nanaimo retailers and in schools.

He said the $55,000 they raised in last year’s poppy campaign almost certainly won’t be met this year.

“We’re really not sure how much less we’re going to raise this year,” Forth said, pointing to the pandemic lessening the amount of people out and about in the community.

Forth said critical programs like financial assistance, housing and mental health support are funded by the poppy campaign nation-wide.

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“The poppy campaign is our main source of income to the trust fund that we have for supporting our veterans and families that are in need.”

Legion representatives will be stationed at Nanaimo North Town Centre, Country Club Centre and Canadian Tire, where poppies will be available by donation.

Legion #257 (Lantzville) and Legion #10 (Harewood) are coordinating their respective poppy campaigns, which runs between Oct. 30 and Nov. 11.

A scaled-down Remembrance Day ceremony will take place at the downtown Nanaimo Cenotaph. The public is told not to attend the event, which will be streamed by NanaimoNewsNOW.

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