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Annual Poppy Campaign directly benefits Sylvan Lake vets

The funds collected from the drive go toward making the lives of veterans and their families better
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A couple local veterans proudly wear their poppy on their lapels while attending last year’s Remembrance Day Service at the NexSource Centre. File Photo

The Sylvan Lake Legion is considering this another successful year of the annual poppy campaign.

The annual fundraiser is organized by Branch No. 212, with volunteers distributing poppies. The funds raised through poppy sales go towards veteran support.

This year Sylvan Lake Legion President Ed Stevenson says the campaign will also help support locally.

Funds raised through the Poppy Campaign this year is going towards bettering the lives of local veterans and their families through the building of a ramp at the Legion building.

“The wonderful thing about this is we are seeing the local poppy find are being used to serve local veterans and their families,” said Stevenson.

He continued to say the Poppy Campaign directly benefits local veterans and their families.

However this is just one use for the Poppy Campaign. The funds gathered from the campaign will help to provide financial support the Military Family Resource Centre and bursaries for post-secondary students.

The poppy drive also supports the Homeless Veteran Program and local cadet programs.

“The funds sty local and should be beneficial to our local veterans and our users,” said Stevenson.

The campaign has been going on throughout Sylvan Lake for roughly the past week and a half, beginning on Oct. 27.

The campaign will culminate on Remembrance Day, with poppies being sold at the Remembrance Day event in town.

On Nov. 3, the Legion also held its annual Poppy Blitz, where volunteers sold poppies at local businesses.

“The blitz went really well, and the businesses have been very supportive,” said Stevenson.

Royal Canadian Legion canvassers were out at five stores in Sylvan Lake; No Frills, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Sobeys and Shopper’s Drug Mart from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 4.

Along with the poppy sales, the Legion has also been selling wreaths and crosses for the large ceremony at the NexSource Centre on Nov. 11.

The annual Remembrance Day Service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, with the doors opening at 10 a.m. Stevenson suggests getting there early to make sure everyone has a seat.

Stevenson says the wreaths sales could be going better this year, but couldn’t say at this time how much has been made on the wreath sales..

Along with the sale of poppies and wreaths, volunteers have also been canvasing the town for donations from businesses.

Volunteers with the Legion will be selling poppies through the Poppy Campaign until Nov. 11.

Stevenson asks that all Sylvan Lake residents wear a poppy on Remembrance Day and make a donation, whatever they can, to the Poppy Campaign, as “every donation does make a difference.”