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Orangeville Legion running Poppy Campaign now until Nov. 11

November 4, 2021   ·   0 Comments

By Sam Odrowski

The Poppy Campaign is officially under way.

The annual distribution of poppies through the Orangeville Legion Branch 233 started last Friday (Oct. 29) and runs up until Remembrance Day, which takes place next Thursday (Nov. 11).

All of the money donated during the campaign goes into the Poppy Trust Fund, which is money that can only be accessed to support veteran and their families.

Chuck Simpson, who’s a veteran and the local Poppy Campaign chair, said that while it is great that the campaign will support surviving vets and their families, the emphasis should be on remembrance.

“When people see this Poppy in autumn, especially in Canada, they remember the sacrifice. There’s 112,000 people, men and women who’ve given up their lives from the time this country has been treatied until now, in the service of this country. It’s something you just don’t forget,” said Simpson. “It’s pure and simple – remember what they did, and honour their memory.”

It’s a particularly important year for the poppy, with 2021 marking the 100^th anniversary since the poppy was adopted as the flower of Remembrance in Canada.

Last year the local Legion raised $44,000 for veterans, which was a little less money than they usually would generate, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Poppy Campaign chair, Chuck Simpson said he’s grateful for any donations received from the poppies, as the money does go a long way in helping the men and women who served their country, as well as their families.

The local Legion has used money from the Poppy Fund to help three veterans who were living on the street, over the past two years.

“We got them off the streets, got them into a hotel room, had them arrange with the VAC [Veterans Affairs Canada], to help them through that way,” said Barry Kimber, president of the Orangeville Legion Branch 233.

He told the Citizen the veterans who were struggling are in a much better place now, in fact one of the gentlemen who’s been helped says “It’s the best I’ve done in years”, according to Kimber.

“He’s got himself his room, he’s got a nice bike, and his life is so much better, and that’s all because of the poppy. All because of the money that is raised because of the poppy, and that’s what we’re all here for… this is what the Legion is all about,” he enthused.

Revenue generated through the Poppy Campaign also helps pay for veterans’ glasses, dental care, hearing aids, and other forms of health or personal care, as needed.

Bursaries to support veterans or family members of veterans who are going off to post-secondary school, are paid for through the Poppy Campaign as well.

Some of that money can also be used towards paying for a service dog to help veterans with mental health conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In a pilot study conducted by a team of researchers at Laval University through Veterans Affairs Canada, it was determined that a service dog can help to decrease a veteran’s number of nightmares, improve their sleep, reduce depressive symptoms and have more social integration in their community.

There’s another program called VetBuild where veterans can engage in full scale model building or tabletop wargaming, with the intention of increasing social activity.

“A lot of veterans – they don’t go anywhere, they just stay at home, they’re almost like shut ins, so [through VetBuild] they create projects, model building… anything to draw them out so they get back into a group,” said Chuck Simpson.

Through the Poppy Trust Fund, Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC) has received funding for the purchase of equipment, since it provides care to many local veterans.

Cadets’ programs in Orangeville and Grand Valley also get a little funding boost, under special use. Many of the youth enrolled do end up joining the Canadian Armed Forces, according to Kimber.

This year, making a donation through the Poppy Campaign is easier than ever before, as the Orangeville Legion is now accepting e-transfer to the email rcl233@rogers.com. Be sure to set the security question password of the e-transfer as “poppy2021”, so the Legion can access it.

Volunteers from the Legion will be canvassing at six different businesses throughout town and 160 countertop boxes have been delivered, offering a contactless option to obtain a poppy.

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